NRL Casualty Ward: Connor Watson facing 12 weeks out for Knights

IT’S by far the biggest casualty ward of the year, headlined by Corey Oates, Tevita Pangai Jr, Nathan Cleary, Connor Watson and Jarryd Hayne.

Connor Watson of the Knights during the Round 3 NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the Newcastle Knights at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Sunday, March 25, 2018. (AAP Image/Brendan Esposito) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

BRISBANE will be without Corey Oates and Tevita Pangai Jr for Sunday’s NRL derby with Gold Coast.

The pair both suffered injuries in the Broncos’ golden-point 9-7 win over Wests Tigers at the weekend.

Oates (hip flexor) and Pangai (hamstring) are both expected to miss up to two weeks, potentially ruling them out of Brisbane’s away clash against Newcastle as well.

Corey Oates of the Broncos goes off the field with a hip injury.

Meanwhile, Newcastle five-eighth Connor Watson is set to be sidelined for up to 12 weeks, with coach Nathan Brown confirming he’s likely to need surgery on an injured shoulder.

Watson was injured in the first half of the Knights’ 38-8 loss to the Sydney Roosters on Sunday night, after his shoulder popped out twice following a hit.

“At this stage they’re thinking a shoulder (operation) has to happen, which is about a 12-week injury,” Brown said.

The former Rooster ended the first half in a brace after he ricocheted off Boyd Cordner and Latrell Mitchell and left the field shortly after.

Newcastle have cover with Brock Lamb having spent time coming off the bench, while Danny Levi could also be brought back onto the interchange in his place as a hooking utility.

Connor Watson faces 12 weeks out for the Knights.

Elsewhere in Round 3:

* THE Panthers’ premiership campaign suffered a devastating blow with scans confirming that star halfback Nathan Cleary will miss up to 10 weeks with a knee injury. Cleary’s injury blow comes less than a week after the club lost props Sam McKendry (knee) and Tim Browne to long-term injuries, while winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (jaw) is out for six weeks.

* WESTS Tigers will be forced to sweat on scans on Benji Marshall’s left ankle as they face a serious halves shortage for their Easter Monday clash with Parramatta.

* PARRAMATTA is sweating on the fitness of Jarryd Hayne (hip flexor), Kane Evans (rib) and Bevan French (shoulder). “I think (Hayne has) got a hip flexor or something, I’m not sure. We haven’t really asked at the moment,” Eels coach Brad Arthur said. “We got a couple of bumps and bruises. I haven’t even spoken to the doctors yet. Kane couldn’t come back on, Bevan got a bump.” Asked whether French would be available next week, Arthur said: “I don’t know, it’s too early.”

Jarryd Hayne is facing a stint on the sideline. Picture. Phil Hillyard

* SHARKS fullback Josh Dugan (groin) limped from the field late in the game but told Fox League he was “all good”. Five-eighth Matt Moylan (hamstring) was a pre-game withdrawal while forward Jayson Bukuya came off with a groin injury.

* WARRIORS forwards Sam Lisone and Adam Blair have been cited by the judiciary. Lisone faces a possible two match ban for a pair dangerous contact charges. Blair was also charged with dangerous contact but can escape suspension with an early guilty plea.

* TITANS Ryan James and Keegan Hipgrave (dangerous contact) can escape one match bans with early guilty pleas. Tariq Sims, Leeson Ah Mau (high tackles) and Ash Taylor (tripping) have copped fines.

FULL NRL CASUALTY WARD

BRONCOS

Jordan Kahu (Broken jaw, Round 14)

Andre Savelio (ACL, season)

Tevita Pangai Jr (Hamstring, Round 5)

Corey Oates (Hip, Round 5)

BULLDOGS

Josh Cleeland (Ankle, Indefinite)

COWBOYS

Lachlan Coote (Hamstring, Round 4)

Kane Linnett (Pectoral, Indefinite)

Shaun Fensom (Broken leg, Round 4)

DRAGONS

No injuries.

EELS

Clint Gutherson (Knee, Round 8)

Jarryd Hayne (Hip flexor, TBC)

Kane Evans (Rib, TBC)

Bevan French (Shoulder, TBC)

KNIGHTS

Connor Watson (shoulder, Round 15)

Dylan Phythian (ACL, round 5)

PANTHERS

Nathan Cleary (Knee, Round 13)

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Jaw, Round 8)

Tyrone May (ACL, Round 5)

Tyrone Phillips (Pectoral, Round 10)

Sam McKendry (Knee, TBC)

Tim Browne (Ruptured bowel, TBC)

RABBITOHS

Campbell Graham (Hand, TBC)

Adam Reynolds (Knee, Round 5)

RAIDERS

Josh Hodgson (ACL, Round 20)

Joe Tapine (Broken finger, Round 4)

ROOSTERS

Daniel Tupou (Pectoral, Round 12)

Bernard Lewis (ACL, Season)

SEA EAGLES

Dylan Walker (Leg, Round 5)

Darcy Lussick (Ankle, Round 4)

SHARKS

Matt Moylan (Hamstring, TBC)

Sione Katoa (Broken jaw, Round 9)

Luke Lewis (Foot, Round 4)

Braden Uele (Ribs, Round 4)

Jayson Bukuya (Groin, TBC)

Josh Dugan (Groin, TBC)

STORM

Jahrome Hughes (Shoulder, Round 6)

Sandor Earl (ACL, Season)

Felise Kaufusi (Hamstring, Round 4)

TITANS

Brendan Elliot (Ankle, Round 5)

Jack Stockwell (Shoulder, Round 4)

Brenko Lee (Knee, Round 4)

WARRIORS

Gerard Beale (Broken leg, Round 10)

Nathaniel Roache (Back, Season)

Simon Mannering (Round 4-5)

Isaiah Papali’i (Knee, Round 8)

Sam Lisone (Likely suspension, TBC)

TIGERS

Jacob Liddle (Shoulder, Round 4)

Josh Reynolds (Hamstring, Round 5)

Tuimoala Lolohea (Knee, TBC)

Benji Marshall (Ankle, TBC)

Originally published as NRL Casualty Ward: Connor Watson facing 12 weeks out for Knights