Casualty Ward: Jake Trbojevic, Jack Johns, Gerard Beale ruled out of Rugby League World Cup

THREE teams have been hit with tournament-ending injuries to key players on a wild opening weekend of the Rugby League World Cup.

Jack Johns nursing his injured arm. PICTURE: STEWART McLEAN

ITALY have been dealt a blow with Jack Johns ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup with a broken arm.

Scans confirmed the break in his left arm, with the 20-year-old son of Matty Johns forced to leave camp on Monday morning with his arm in a cast.

Johns came from the field straight after half-time during the Azzurri’s shock 36-12 loss to Ireland.

The loss of halfback Johns is likely to be offset by the return of Terry Campese for Saturday’s clash against the USA in Townsville.

Johns’ injury is the latest of a long list to come out of the opening weekend of the World Cup.

Heavyweights Australia, New Zealand and England were all dealt early tournament hurdles to clear after suffering injury blows in their opening games.

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Italy's Jack Johns will miss the rest of the World Cup. Picture: Stewart McLean

The Kangaroos and Kiwis face the prospect of reaching the final with 23 men following tournament-ending injuries to Jake Trbojevic (pec) and Gerard Beale (ankle) respectively.

It is unlikely they will make requests to draft in a replacement player given there are already members in their squad capable of filling in the vacant position.

The Lions also copped a blow with star forward Sam Burgess facing at least two weeks out with a knee ligament injury picked up in their 18-4 loss to Australia on Friday.

The tier one nations aren’t the only teams forced into changes for their next pool match, with Fiji losing towering prop Kane Evans to a broken wrist in their rout of USA on Saturday.

Trbojevic, Beale and Evans look like missing all the pre-season for clubs Manly, Warriors and Parramatta respectively.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — OCTOBER 27: Jake Trbojevic of Australia is tackled during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup match between the Australian Kangaroos and England at AAMI Park on October 27, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The injuries soured a string of notable performances by minnow nations across the opening round of group matches, with Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga all cracking 50 points.

The Kumuls spanked Wales 50-6, the Bati scorched USA 58-12, while Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita helped Tonga smash Scotland 50-4.

Tournament favourites Australia were rusty in an unconvincing 14-point win over England, while New Zealand showed some life in a 38-8 trouncing of a strong Samoa outfit.

In arguably the closest Test of the weekend, Lebanon edged France 29-18 in Canberra to register their maiden World Cup win.

Originally published as Casualty Ward: Jake Trbojevic, Jack Johns, Gerard Beale ruled out of Rugby League World Cup