Casualty Ward: Full injury wrap from the NRL trials and All Stars match
MOST teams got through Saturday’s trials relatively unscathed but Bulldogs and Rabbitohs fans were both given a reason to worry ahead of round one. Every injury listed!
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MOST teams got through Saturday’s trials relatively unscathed but Bulldogs and Rabbitohs fans were both given a reason to worry ahead of round one.
Check out our injury wrap of Saturday’s trials as well as the concerns to come out of the All Stars match.
BULLDOGS
Will Hopoate took a knock in his first hit out in blue and white, with a corked thigh forcing him off the ground against the Panthers.
Des Hasler played down the injury, saying his new recruit had been taken off only as a “precaution” but with Brett Morris still in some doubt for round one as he recovers from knee surgery, the Bulldogs can ill afford to lose his potential short-term replacement in the No.1 jersey.
ALL STARS, TRIALS: Every team line-up
COWBOYS
The Cowboys were inactive this weekend but that didn’t stop them from copping the most serious injury with Ray Thompson likely to be sidelined for 12 to 14 weeks after fracturing his ankle in Indigenous All Stars training on Friday.
Thompson is an important player for the Cowboys due to his utility value, with his injury leaving Paul Green short of options to cover hooker and the two halves positions.
DRAGONS
Paul McGregor didn’t have too much to smile about after his side’s lacklustre performance in the Charity Shield but he did declare in the press conference that they got through with “no injuries”.
The one minor concern was skipper Ben Creagh, who came off after a head knock before later returning to the field to complete the match.
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EELS
No injuries to report.
PANTHERS
No injuries to report.
RABBITOHS
The Rabbitohs got through the Charity Shield without any injuries worth talking about but the sight of Adam Reynolds limping out of the sheds with his ankle strapped following his starring role in the World All Stars victory poses as a concern for Bunnies fans.
Rabbitohs fans - Adam Reynolds limped out of sheds with ankle strapped. Looked very sore. #nrl
— Travis Meyn (@travismeyn) February 13, 2016
Souths are already set to be without suspended five-eighth Luke Keary in their round one clash with the Roosters, with Cody Walker to take his place, so they can ill afford to miss their premiership winning halfback as well.
The severity of Reynolds’ ankle injury is unknown, however he did get through the All Stars game, indicating he won’t be sidelined for the season opener.
RAIDERS
Like the Cowboys, the Raiders were inactive this weekend but they did have two of their brightest young backline stars on show in the All Stars game.
While Jarrod Croker got all the praise, with Wayne Bennett calling for him to be picked for Origin after a strong performance, Jack Wighton was forced off the field with a head knock that will need to be monitored.
In better news for the Green Machine, Blake Austin is expected to be available for selection in round one as he nears full fitness following off-season shoulder surgery.
“The doctors who did my shoulder surgery were happy with how it all went and my rehab since then has gone really well,” Austin told The Daily Telegraph.
“I’ve been working hard on getting full range back in the shoulder and my goal has always been ready for round one.”
STORM
No injuries to report.
TIGERS
No injuries to report.
TITANS
The Titans got through their drawn match against the Eels in Alice Springs unscathed but Neil Henry did reveal that he had received a text message telling him star forward Ryan James had been injured in the All Stars match.
No further light has been shed on the potential injury to James.
Greg Bird also suffered a nasty head cut in the showpiece fixture at Suncorp Stadium but after getting treatment he returned to finish the game.
WARRIORS
No injuries to report.
Originally published as Casualty Ward: Full injury wrap from the NRL trials and All Stars match
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