NRL 2023 Casualty Ward Round 11: Junior Paulo judiciary charge, Sam Walker, Adam Reynolds injuries
The NRL match review committee has laid down its charges stemming from Saturday night’s fixtures - with Origin coaches Brad Fittler and Billy Slater the keenest observers.
SuperCoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperCoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The NRL’s match review committee have handed Origin hopefuls Junior Paulo and Corey Horsburgh a reprieve after both escaped suspension.
Parramatta and NSW Blues prop Paulo was placed on report for a ‘cannonball’ tackle on Canberra’s Joe Tapine in Saturday’s 26-18 loss.
On Sunday, the MRC ruled the tackle was not serious enough to cop a ban and Paulo was instead handed a grade one dangerous contact charge, which attracts a $1800 with an early guilty plea.
It’s also welcome news for Parramatta’s engine room.
While Paulo will be able to take the field in Friday’s crucial clash against ladder leaders South Sydney, backrower Shaun Lane is facing a lengthy stint on the sidelines after he suffered a hamstring injury in the loss to the Raiders.
Prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard is out with a groin injury until at least round 17.
Centre Bailey Simonsson was penalised for a hip-drop tackle on Raiders winger Jordan Rapana on Saturday but was not cited by the MRC.
Queensland Maroons bolter Horsburgh was also not charged by the MRC after the fiery Canberra lock was sin-binned for pushing Ryan Matterson in the head after the two came to blows.
Both Paulo and Horsburgh will have one more Origin audition before the sides for game one of the series on May 31 are selected at the conclusion of round 12.
St George Illawarra forward Jaydn Su’A was charged with a grade one careless high tackle on North Queensland’s Murray Taulagi but will be free to take on the Sydney Roosters on Friday night with an early plea and a $3000 fine.
AXED ROOSTER, BRONCOS STAR SUFFER INJURY BLOWS
By Peter Badel and Brent Read
Sam Walker has suffered another crushing blow with the out-of-favour Roosters young gun succumbing to a knee injury that could require surgery.
News Corp can reveal Walker will see a specialist early next week after sustaining a fresh injury setback that saw the boom Queenslander ruled out of the Roosters’ NSW Cup clash against Penrith on Friday night.
It is understood Walker has been ordered to wear a knee brace for the next three weeks, with the playmaker’s impending visit to a Sydney specialist to determine if he needs an operation.
It has been a turbulent month for the 20-year-old, who was sensationally dropped by Roosters coach Trent Robinson after their disappointing 22-12 loss to Cronulla in round 7.
Rated a future Queensland Origin halfback, Walker was shopped to Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins last week by a third party - raising fears over his future at Bondi.
Now the Ipswich product is dealing with more adversity in the form of a knee problem that could hinder Walker’s determination to fight his way back into the Roosters’ top squad.
The 2021 NRL rookie of the year first suffered the injury after being crunched in a tackle in his return to the NSW Cup against the Warriors in Auckland a fortnight ago.
Walker, who travelled with the Roosters to Queensland last week for Magic Round, was due to appear in reserve grade against Souths at North Sydney Oval last Saturday, only to withdraw with a stomach bug.
Since the Warriors NSW Cup clash, Walker has reported knee soreness and further investigations from medicos prompted him to be placed in a brace.
Walker’s Roosters halves mentor, Queensland legend Cooper Cronk, was expecting the Australian PM’s III playmaker to appear against Penrith on Friday night.
“I saw him during the week and he’s committed,” Cronk told Fox Sports.
“They play reserve grade at 5.30pm, it speaks volumes with your performance and I expect him to be a very, very good player this afternoon.”
But Walker was an injured spectator at BlueBet Stadium ahead of his specialist’s appointment.
Walker would have pressed for a recall to the Roosters side with State of Origin on the horizon and NSW certain to summon James Tedesco and potentially Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
That could have prompted coach Robinson to move Joey Manu either to fullback or back to the centres, which in turn would have opened a slot for Walker to play in the halves.
Those hopes have now seemingly been dashed by an untimely injury that has left the young playmaker facing an uncertain stint out of the game.
Ironically, it comes almost a year to the day since Walker was called into Origin camp by Queensland coach Billy Slater to give him a taste of what it means to pull on the famous Maroons jersey.
At the time, Walker’s eventual ascent to the Origin arena was considered a fait accompli. He now faces a battle to win back his place in the Roosters side, let alone clinch a berth in Queensland’s extended squad.
BRONCOS’ FACE CRIPPLING BLOW FOR PANTHERS BLOCKBUSTER
—Peter Badel, Travis Meyn
The Broncos could face a crippling blow with star skipper Adam Reynolds in danger of being ruled out of Thursday night’s blockbuster against Penrith due to the NRL’s new concussion rules.
Brisbane’s champion halfback was carried off AAMI Park on Thursday night on a medicab in a neck brace after slamming face-first into the turf as he dived at speed attempting to score a try in Melbourne’s in-goal.
Reynolds was later cleared of a serious neck injury by Broncos doctors and watched the second half from the Brisbane bench.
Under the NRL’s beefed-up head-trauma protocols, a Category One concussion triggers an automatic 11-day stand-down period.
The Broncos confirmed Reynolds was given a Category Two rating during the game, meaning the Brisbane skipper will require a medical clearance from a neurologist to be allowed to face the Panthers at Suncorp Stadium.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters insists he will take no risks with Reynolds, with Wests Tigers recruit Jock Madden a possible contingency to partner Ezra Mam in the halves if their captain is officially scratched.
“Adam is not too good,” Walters said after Brisbane’s third loss of the season.
“He is OK, he is a bit groggy, but his shoulder is a bit crook as well.
“We have to get him back to Brisbane and see how he is.
“I don’t think he will play next week but that’s OK, we’ll get him back when he is fit and healthy.
“The thing I like is the way we played without him. Adam is our leader and they marched on without him, we didn’t play great but losing your captain is tough.
“We will have games like this and we did well to hang in for as long as we did.”
Broncos head of performance Dave Ballard said Reynolds is no guarantee to suit up for a big-game showdown with Panthers halfback maestro Nathan Cleary.
“Adam has been cleared of any neck issues and will be monitored over the next few days as part of a concussion protocol,” Ballard said.
“He received a Category Two rating during the game.
“We will be guided by his progress through the concussion protocol in coming days to determine his return to play.”
The NRL’s match-review committee has charged Walsh for a shoulder charge on Melbourne’s Justin Olam, but the Broncos fullback has been fined $1500 and will be free to face the Panthers.
PENRITH STAR’S EYE-WATERING RUPTURE
The Panthers and NSW Blues have been rocked by another injury blow with hard-running prop Spencer Leniu undergoing surgery for a ruptured testicle.
Leniu experienced the excruciating injury during training on Wednesday night.
A Penrith statement said the injury occurred during “a high impact opposed training session.’’
The incident resulted in Leniu requiring surgery at Nepean Hospital.
Ruled out of Friday night’s clash with the Roosters, Leniu is recuperating at home.
Liam Henry has been added to the interchange in place of Leniu.
Due to the Blues rising injury rate in their forward stocks, Leniu has been under close watch by NSW selectors.
The club wouldn’t put a time frame on his return to play date, however several players have suffered the same injury in recent seasons.
Former Warriors half Chanel Harris-Tavita missed four matches in 2021 after being sidelined with the same injury while Cowboys half Tom Dearden made it back onto the field within two matches last year with the aid of a protective guard.
ADDO-CARR CAN’T GET THROUGH CAPTAIN’S RUN
The Bulldogs and NSW have suffered a major blow with Josh Addo-Carr’s comeback bid falling short.
The Test winger was attempting to come back from ankle surgery in time for the Dogs clash with the Warriors on Friday night.
Addo-Carr was also striving towards giving himself enough time to prove his readiness for NSW coach Brad Fittler.
However, the speedster pulled up short following the Dogs captain’s run on Thursday.
Addo-Carr is confident he will make it back for one final shot at Origin selection next weekend before the Blues side for game one is named.
In what has been a year of debut jumpers for Canterbury, Addo-Carr’s omission will see the promotion of debutant Blake Wilson into the side.
$50K richer: SuperCoach champ’s first expense is shouting Kyle Flanagan
SuperCoach winner Blake Gentle is a groomsman at the wedding of Dragons five-eighth Kyle Flanagan and he knows exactly how he’ll have to spend the first part of his $50,000 winnings.
‘We’ve got to deliver’: No excuses as Sharks ready for finals charge
Craig Fitzgibbon knows few are giving his Sharks much hope in a week one NRL finals match-up with Melbourne, but the Cronulla coach is relishing the opportunity.