Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s gruesome injury in Raiders’ gutsy win over Rabbitohs
The Canberra Raiders lost Josh Hodgson two weeks ago but since then have put in some of the bravest performances, despite more injuries plaguing their season.
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The Canberra Raiders have held on for another tight win, hanging on against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a tight 18-12 victory.
But the side’s mounting injury list has continued to mount with fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad suffering an ugly injury on his hand.
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The sides were locked at 12-all and it was clearly heading to the tight finish with rain pouring down throughout the match.
In a seemingly innocuous tally, Nicoll-Klokstad was clutched his hand with blood pouring from his finger.
In clear agony, he left the field with the commentators speculating a compound fracture.
News came out soon after that it was a compound dislocation, meaning the bone pierced the skin but the bone wasn’t broken.
The NRL Physio explained the injury and said it would be between one to three weeks, as long as there isn’t serious tendon damage, which would mean more than eight weeks.
Compound dislocation or fracture of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s 5th finger. Initial word is suspected dislocation.
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 25, 2020
Best case: clean dislocation, 1-3 weeks
If fractured: at least 3-4 weeks for adequate bone healing.
Hope no significant tendon involvement (8+ weeks). pic.twitter.com/wWGemBuApR
That looked awful for CNK. AWFUL #NRLRaidersSouths
— Erin Molan (@Erin_Molan) July 25, 2020
The fullback position seemed cursed with Jordan Rapana knocked out of the match with a head injury assessment where he was taken out by rookie winger Semi Valemei.
The pair collided going for a loose ball with less than 10 minutes remaining.
But the performance could take nothing away from the gutsy performance from the Raiders.
The first try came off the back of Rapana knocking down a bomb, with the ball coming to Nick Cotric off a falcon who brushed past Dane Gagai and scored in the corner.
Jarrod Croker then made it 10-0, scooping up a loose ball and diving over the line.
The Rabbitohs then responded with two tries to take the lead to the break.
A penalty goal tied the game up early in the second before Valemei scored his maiden NRL try in the 57th minute with the green machine holding the Rabbitohs out.
The Rabbitohs also lost players throughout with Alex Johnston ruled out early and coach Wayne Bennett praised his side for playing under adversity despite frustration at the loss.
“Losing a couple of players who couldn’t come back and a couple of Raiders tries had a bit of luck in them, we had to earn everything we got,” he said. “The effort was there, good intent, a couple of times we were half a metre short of the try line so I thought there were a lot of good things tonight and a little bit of bad luck but that’s footy and that’s the way it goes.”
Bennett said it was frustrating with players including Jack Johns, the son of Matthew Johns who debuted tonight, not having any game conditioning behind them with reserve grade not playing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think there is (a solution) but no one has worked hard enough to get an outcome for it so we all just sat back and were all passive about it,” he said. “Our club has been in the same boat so I’m not criticising anyone for it.”
Originally published as Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s gruesome injury in Raiders’ gutsy win over Rabbitohs