Mitchell Pearce suffers suspected torn pec in Newcastle’s last gasp win over Wests Tigers

SCAN results are in. Mitchell Pearce will play again this season, but his Origin hopes are officially over.

Mitchell Pearce of the Knights.

MITCHELL Pearce will play again this season, but his Origin hopes are over.

Pearce suffered a serious pectoral injury in the final stages of Newcastle’s dramatic win against the Wests Tigers, with the club harbouring initial fears he would miss the entire season.

However, medical results released by the Knights on Sunday reveal Pearce will miss approximately 16 weeks, putting his return date at Round 23.

“Pearce sustained a ruptured pectoral muscle in Saturday’s Round 7 match at Tamworth against the Wests Tigers,” the Knights said in a statement.

“Scans on Sunday have confirmed the rupture. Pearce will see a shoulder specialist this week for surgery.

“He will be sidelined for approximately 16 weeks.

The Knights are hopeful Connor Watson will return from injury in time to play Manly and partner Jack Cogger, while Brock Lamb and Jamie Buhrer — who nailed the cross field kick for Shaun Kenny-Dowall’s match winning try — are other options.

Pearce left Scully Park with his arm in a sling.

“It’s not great,” coach Nathan Brown said after the game. “He is disappointed. Mitch loves playing. Game day is his favourite day of the week. They are the types of players you want in your club. Whatever the result is he will still contribute while he is not playing...

“It’s not a great thing when anyone loses their halfback and one of their best players.

“We’d like to think experience with some of our younger halves, our squad is stronger. We should be able to overcome these things.

“I might have to manufacture one or two things.”

Mitchell Pearce will miss 16 weeks.

In other injury/judiciary news:

* South Sydney enforcer Sam Burgess is facing a suspension of 2-3 weeks after being charged for a high tackle on Canberra playmaker Aidan Sezer. The NRL match review committee has rated the tackle a grade 2 offence. Burgess was returning from a two week suspension for elbowing Canterbury centre Josh Morris. The Rabbitohs are yet to decide if they will fight the latest charge at the judiciary.

* Jake Friend (concussion) failed to finish for the Roosters.

* Shaun Johnson (groin) is hopeful of taking on the Storm on Anzac Day after being ruled out pre-game. Solomone Kata (ankle) was also a pre-game withdrawal for the Warriors.

* Tohu Harris (concussion) was taken off following successive head knocks and is now in serious doubt for the Anzac Day clash due to the five-day turnaround.

* Andrew McCullough (elbow) will miss 4-6 weeks for the Broncos.

* Jesse Bromwich (knee) will miss 1-3 weeks with a medial ligament issue.

* Elijah Taylor (concussion) failed to finish for the Tigers.

* Jacob Liddle (sternum) managed just 26 minutes against the Knights.

* John Asiata (pectoral) is expected to miss at least 10 weeks on initial diagnosis.

* Jarryd Hayne (hip flexor) re-injured the issue he was returning from.

* Brad Parker (knee) didn’t finish for the Sea Eagles.

* Wade Graham (hamstring) missed out for the Sharks, but is hopeful of being fit to play against the Gold Coast next week.

* Luke Lewis (calf) was rushed back for the Sharks from a knee injury and promptly did his calf.

Sam Burgess is facing suspension.

FULL NRL CASUALTY WARD

BRONCOS

Jordan Kahu (Broken jaw, Round 8-14)

Andre Savelio (ACL, season)

Matt Gillett (Broken neck, Round 14-18)

Andrew McCullough (Elbow, Rounds 12-14)

BULLDOGS

Aiden Tolman (Ankle, Round 13)

COWBOYS

Kane Linnett (Pectoral, Round 13)

Shaun Fensom (Broken leg, Indefinite)

Jordan McLean (Foot, Round 16)

Josh Chudleigh (Knee, Season)

John Asiata (Pectoral, TBC)

DRAGONS

Luciano Leilua (Ankle, Round 10)

EELS

Jarryd Hayne (Hip flexor, TBC)

Nathan Brown (Ankle, Round 8)

KNIGHTS

Mitchell Pearce (Pectoral, Round 23)

Connor Watson (Shoulder, Round 8)

Tautau Moga (ACL, Season)

PANTHERS

Nathan Cleary (Knee, Round 13)

Tyrone May (ACL, Indefinite)

Tyrone Phillips (Pectoral, Round 10)

Sam McKendry (ACL, Season)

Tim Browne (R uptured bowel, Indefinite)

Waqa Blake (Ankle, Round 14)

Josh Mansour (Fractured cheekbone, Round 19)

RABBITOHS

Zane Musgrove (Ankle, Indefinite)

Tyrell Fuimaono (Toe, Round 10)

Sam Burgess (Facing suspension, Round 10-11)

Cameron Murray (Hamstring, Round 8)

RAIDERS

Josh Hodgson (ACL, Round 16-20)

Charlie Gubb (Groin, Round 10)

Sam Williams (Knee, Round 10-12)

ROOSTERS

Sio Siua Taukeiaho (Knee, Round 8)

Daniel Tupou (Pectoral, Round 12)

Bernard Lewis (ACL, Season)

Jake Friend (Concussion, Round 8)

SEA EAGLES

Jorge Taufua (Collarbone, Round 12)

Curtis Sironen (ACL, Season)

Kelepi Tanginoa (ACL, Season)

Brad Parker (Knee, TBC)

SHARKS

Wade Graham (Hamstring, Round 8)

Paul Gallen (Knee, Round 11)

Jayson Bukuya (Groin, Round 8)

Luke Lewis (Calf, TBC)

STORM

Sandor Earl (ACL, July)

Dale Finucane (Thumb, Round 9)

Jesse Bromwich (Knee, Round 9-11)

TITANS

Dale Copley (Hamstring, Round 10-11

Nathan Peats (Ribs, Round 11-13)

WARRIORS

Gerard Beale (Broken leg, Round 10)

Nathaniel Roache (Back, Season)

James Gavet (Hamstring, Round 8)

Leivaha Pulu (Ankle, Indefinite)

Solomone Kata (Ankle, Round 8)

Tohu Harris (Concussion, Round 8)

Shaun Johnson (Groin, Round 8)

TIGERS

Russell Packer (Knee, Round 10)

Elijah Taylor (Concussion, Round 8)

Jacob Liddle (Sternum, TBC)

Chris Lawrence (Hamstring, Round 8)

Josh Reynolds (Shoulder, Round 11-13)

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Originally published as Mitchell Pearce suffers suspected torn pec in Newcastle’s last gasp win over Wests Tigers