NRL Casualty Ward 2022: Christian Welch headlines triple injury blow for Storm, Blake Taaffe update
NRL Physio wraps a huge weekend of injuries including a cruel triple blow for the Storm, concussion chaos and surprising setback for the Rabbitohs.
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South Sydney utility Blake Taaffe is set to miss Thursday night’s trip to Melbourne with an ankle injury but Rabbitohs official haven’t given up hope of him returning the following week against bitter rivals, the Sydney Roosters.
Taaffe injured his ankle the day before the club’s season opener against Brisbane and was largely a spectator at training on Monday.
He has already been ruled out of the game against the Storm and there were initial concerns he could miss up to a month.
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However, Rabbitohs official are privately hopeful that Taaffe could come back sooner than that, if not against the Roosters then the following week when the Rabbitohs play the defending premiers, Penrith.
Taaffe’s absence against Brisbane left Souths to turn to Alex Johnston at fullback - Latrell Mitchell was suspended for that game but will return against Melbourne.
With Mitchell available again, Taaffe was expected to compete for a place on the interchange bench. Those plans were thrown into disarray when he rolled his ankle at training last week.
WELCH HEADLINES HORROR NIGHT FOR STORM TRIO
What was initially shaping up to be a relatively quiet weekend on the injury front turned sour with the final match of Super Saturday.
Christian Welch’s Achilles rupture is the biggest headline, with the Storm and Maroons forward going down untouched while pushing up off the line in defence.
If that wasn’t concerning enough he was unable to push off with his toes whilst walking off the field, with flat foot walking a classic tell-tale sign of Achilles injury. News promptly came through from the Storm medical staff effectively confirming a complete rupture, with the hands on testing extremely accurate at diagnosing this injury.
Welch will now undergo surgery, with the usual recovery range being 5-7 months in the NRL. Five months from today is Round 22, so Welch still has a chance to come back late season.
But on return he is likely to take time to build back to his usual workload and high levels of performance, so 2023 is likely the next time we see the best from Welch.
The news didn’t get any better for the Storm with George Jennings going down with a non-contact right knee injury. It was concerning immediately for an ACL injury and once again the Storm medical staff were prompt in diagnosing a likely complete rupture. Scans often confirm what the medical staff already know in these cases, so Jennings’ 2022 season is highly likely over with surgery and 6-9 months recovery ahead.
Brandon Smith was another Storm casualty, going off early in the first half after suffering a suspected broken hand in the very first tackle of the game. The news here is thankfully a lot better for the Storm with many bones in the hand having good blood supply and quick healing rates. Surgery can often be used to stabilise hand fractures with pins and plates allowing for accelerated rehab. Players can be back as soon as three weeks, with most back in a 3-6 week range.
Lost in the other carnage, definitely some concern for Jake Simpkin. Previously subluxed his left shoulder late last year & did not undergo surgery. Video here brings concern for further instability (sublux/dislocation), can require immediate reconstruction surgery in some cases pic.twitter.com/i5jpNhcYQJ
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 12, 2022
CONCERN FOR YOUNG TIGER
The Tigers had Jake Simpkin leave the game with a left shoulder injury, which didn’t look all that significant in isolation but considering his history is something to watch. The Tigers hooker suffered a subluxation in the same shoulder late in 2022 and there were mixed reports on the treatment he received, with some suggesting a latarjet shoulder reconstruction and others rehab.
Recurrent instability episodes are an increased risk in these scenarios, and it is possible Simpkin did suffer another subluxation/shift in his left shoulder joint. Thankfully post match Michael Maguire indicated it was likely just a stinger, but it is a situation to monitor with the risk for further instability being increased. As we’ve seen with players such as Reed Mahoney further subluxations can result in an early end to the season with the need for reconstruction surgery.
POSITIVE NEWS FOR HODGSON
The news was much better than first feared for Josh Hodgson, who left the field early in the Raiders game with a right knee injury. Thankfully the Raiders were confident early that he had not suffered a ligament injury, and were hopeful that there was just a meniscus tear present. Scans went one better showing a small piece of cartilage had broken free, which doesn’t sound all the great but thankfully has a relatively simple treatment and quick recovery. Minor surgery will often be performed to remove the piece of floating cartilage, with return to play usually achieved in 3-4 weeks.
Raiders suspect a lateral meniscus injury for Josh Hodgson after initial assessments - stability of the knee appears good so hope is ACL injury avoided. Scans still to come, if meniscus injury confirmed would likely be facing surgery & at least 4-6 weeks recovery pic.twitter.com/5YbSIyOh5x
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 11, 2022
PANGAI HAMSTRUNG
Tevita Pangai Junior will be missing for the Bulldogs today after failing to overcome a minor hamstring issue. Thankfully scans show no sign of a tear, but he is feeling some tightness/weakness in the area so best to sit this week out. Hamstring issues are always a concern with the high recurrence rate, but this is furthered by TPJ’s extensive hamstring injury history. Sounding like he is still expected to return in the next 1-2 weeks.
NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET
Aaron Woods suffered a hamstring injury in the Dragons win over the Warriors. Whilst the severity is tough to assess just by video, even the most minor of hamstring strains will usually result in 204 weeks recovery due to the high recurrence rate. He’s unlikely to be available until at least Round 3.
Aaron Woods left the field with a hamstring injury last night. Appeared minor in nature, if a grade 1 strain was to be confirmed usually looking at a 2-4 week return to play time pic.twitter.com/fmf6T0dfea
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 13, 2022
LEOTA CLEARED OF SERIOUS DAMAGE
Some more good news in the case of Moses Leota, who left the field late with a shoulder injury. Having previously had issues with that shoulder over the past few season, scans reportedly cleared him of significant damage with the plan to undergo rehab over the next 1-2 weeks before returning.
HIGH DRAMA OVER HIAs
Controversy was abound regarding the HIA this weekend, with the Roosters having Victor Radley and Billy Smith ruled out of their game by an independent doctor in the bunker who identified they displayed category one symptoms of concussion. This is a new system in place for 2023 where the independent doctor can rule out players from video footage of the incident alone, as opposed to previously where they would just notify the team doctor that a player may need to be assessed. The category one symptoms of concussion are often fairly obvious:
Loss of consciousness
Motor incoordination/balance disturbances
Confusion/disorientation
No protective action in falling to the ground/”floppiness”
These symptoms have always been an automatic game ender, but previously could only be identified as present by the club doctor.
The independent doctor determined that both Radley and Smith had displayed one or more of these signs during heavy hits and indicated they were to be ruled out for the game, even though the Roosters indicated post match both players were concussion symptom free. Fans will need to get used to this as it will continue to happen throughout the season.
The good news for the Roosters duo is being symptom free post match is the first step in being cleared to play the following week. Only 50% of NRL players who fail a HIA end up playing the following week under current protocols, so if no delayed symptoms of concussion present then Radley and Smith are a good chance to suit up for the tricolours in Round 2.
RELIEF AS KEY RAIDER AVOIDS SIDELINE STINT
Jarrod Croker’s bid to keep his NRL career alive has suffered another setback with the Raiders captain sent for scans on a new injury.
On a comeback trail from stem-cell surgery of his knee, Croker was due to play for the Raiders in their NSW Cup clash with Newtown on Saturday.
However, Croker has withdrawn from the match due to painful and repeated back spasms.
In order to understand more about the cause of the issue, the Raiders highest point scorer of all-time has been sent for scans.
“Jarrod can’t take a trick at the moment,’’ Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said.
“I feel sorry for Jarrod because he’s doing everything possible to get back on the field and now he has a back spasm issue which has happened three times over the off-season.
“He has been working really hard and he was so looking forward to playing today.
“I had breakfast with Jarrod and the leadership group this morning (Saturday) and he’s gone off for scans.’’
Meanwhile, the Raiders dodged another injury on bullet on Saturday when scans confirmed hooker Josh Hodgson would only miss the next two weeks.
Hodgson suffered a chip to his knee cartilage, with the good news being that his ACL has remained in-tact.
There were serious fears Hodgson’s season was over when he went down early in Friday’s win over Cronulla.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart will rely on Tom Starling to fill the void of Hodgson at dummy-half in round two.
INJURY BLOW FOR ROOSTERS STAR
Connor Watson is set for an extended run in the Sydney Roosters’ No. 9 jersey after Sam Verrills underwent surgery on a broken thumb.
Verrills was suspended for the opening round of the season but he looks set to miss up to six weeks after breaking his thumb at training late last week.
It is understood he damaged the thumb in the club’s final contact session.
Watson was named in the No. 9 jersey for the club’s season opener against Newcastle on Saturday at the SCG and he seems certain to remain in the role, at the very least until Verrills is fit and healthy.
Verrills played 12 games for the Roosters last season and was expected to form a formidable one-two punch with Watson this season, likely to be his final year at the club.
The Roosters have signed Melbourne’s Brandon Smith for next season and he is expected to take over the hooking role when he joins the club in 2023.
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