NRL 2021: Tom Trbojevic ready to return for Manly against Gold Coast
The Warriors have suffered a massive blow, losing a star forward to an injury more common in car crash victims than rugby league players.
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The Warriors were struck a significant blow this week with Addin Fonua-Blake’s knee injury much worse than first thought. What was hoped to have been a bone contusion turned out to be a tibial tuberosity fracture, PCL injury and extensor mechanism damage. In simple terms this is a fracture to the tibia (shin bone) where the patellar tendon attaches just below the kneecap along with a damage to the PCL.
It cannot be understated how rare this injury is; there has not been one of this magnitude in at least the past 6 years in the NRL and possibly much longer. Tibial tuberosity fractures are extremely uncommon in adults, and to add on damage to the patellar tendon and PCL via a blunt force to the front of the knee is something reserved more for a car crash injury than one from the footy field.
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Damage like this to the tibial tuberosity and the patellar tendon will require surgery, as this is the anchor point for the quadriceps muscles that is required to deal with significant forces in an athlete. Thankfully the tendon was not completely ruptured which would have extended his recovery time even further, however he will still be facing 4-6 months in the rehab room.
Complex knee injury for Addin Fonua-Blake. Will require surgery & 4 months recovery after suffering a tibial tuberosity fracture, damage to his extensor mechanism & a PCL injury. Effectively multiple worst case scenarios considering injury mechanism (tibia fracture/PCL tear) pic.twitter.com/NaJZR21wv5
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) April 9, 2021
Ryan Matterson was again missing for the Eels this weekend due to ongoing symptoms from a concussion suffered 3 weeks ago. This was always the worst fear when the skilful second rower failed to finish the game against the Storm in Round 2, as he has a complex history with prolonged concussion symptoms.
Unfortunately there is no way to know how the next few weeks will play out for Matterson, such is the unpredictable nature of recovery from a concussion like this. The Eels will continue to monitor his symptoms in the coming weeks, but it is likely they will be extra cautious in a return to the field. It would not be surprising to see Matterson miss an extra week or two once he is completely symptom free.
Staying on concussions there is concern at the Sharks with Wade Graham suffering his second concussion in 3 weeks and Josh Dugan his second in 2 weeks. Any time a player suffers 2 concussions within the same season they are required to see an independent neurologist, and while once again it is tough to predict how the next few weeks will go for both players it is highly unlikely they will be available in Round 6.
The Roosters may be forced to scour NSW Cup for a starting hooker next week with Freddie Lussick leaving the field with a suspected fracture forearm. If this is confirmed he would be facing at least 4-6 weeks on the sideline, and possibly even longer (up to 8-10 weeks) depending on the specific fracture location.
Another side running low on stocks due to injury is the Sea Eagles, with another backrower going down in Jack Gosiewski. There are fears he could miss the rest of the season with a foot injury, although it would have to be the very worst case scenario to cause him to miss the next 5 months of footy.
Dylan Walker is also facing 1-2 months on the sideline thanks to a hamstring injury. The concern here was the specific location of the tear, high up on the hamstring near the glutes. Strains higher up often involve damage to the tendon, which requires longer recovery times than those to the pure muscle belly.
Dylan Walker with suspected hamstring injury, concerns here are severity & specific location. Damage higher up on the hamstring towards glutes = longer recovery time, & concern from Manly is said to be for at least a partial tear. Recovery estimate is 1-2 months pic.twitter.com/ZyLmwdJ0JZ
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) April 9, 2021
Thankfully finding his replacement at fullback should be fairly simple with Tom Trbojevic due to return from a hamstring strain of his own next week. As always with hamstring injuries it is worth noting the high recurrence rate (10-30%), with the greatest risk to players in their first 2 weeks back on the field.
Unfortunate confirmation of a ruptured distal biceps tendon (near elbow) for Ben Te’o, was the fear considering mechanism. Causes significant loss of function at elbow, surgery to repair required with usual recovery time of 3-4 months pic.twitter.com/Sd3S6V44AQ
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) April 10, 2021
The Knights injury woes continued with Chris Randall ending the night in hospital with s suspected wrist fracture. If scans confirm this the usual recovery time required is 1-2 months.
Ben Te’o is looking at surgery and an extended recovery period after rupturing his biceps tendon on Thursday night. Unfortunately the Broncos forward ruptured the tendon near the elbow, which almost always requires surgery due to the function loss that comes with this. He will be out for 3-4 months.
Luke Thompson (hamstring) and Josh Hodgson (hip flexor) both failed to finish the game for their respective sides, but were said to be dealing with tightness/cramping more than anything. Provided scans show no structural damage both would be looking good to play next week.
Josh Hodgson off with what appears to be a hip flexor issue. Thankfully most relatively minor/quick recovery, unlikely to be getting treatment of that type if significant tear etc pic.twitter.com/ymzWkNy8QO
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) April 9, 2021
Finally it has been a horrible week in the injury world of the NRL, with two fantastic players forced into early retirement due to injury. Jake Friend announced on Thursday that he would be retiring immediately after suffering his third concussion in 6 months, and approximately the 20th of his career. Michael Morgan did the same on Friday after multiple specialist reviews indicated his ongoing shoulder issues would not allow him to continue playing at the top level. Injuries are part of the fabric of the game, but it is always devastating to see players cut down from performing their best. I hope both players recover well and they suffer minimal ongoing effects of these injuries in retirement.
—NRL Physio Brien Seeney
TOMMY TURBO REVVED UP FOR RETURN AFTER SECRET TEST
Tommy Turbo is back after the Manly star passed a secret fitness test on his injured hamstring on Saturday declaring he is feeling “confident” in his body.
Barring any further setbacks, Trbojevic will be named for Manly on Tuesday and line-up for the Sea Eagles against the Titans in Mudgee on Saturday.
After winning their first game of the season against the Warriors on Friday night, the Sea Eagles were given another huge boost with Trbojevic completing a rigorous training session to test out his problematic hamstring.
Privately, Sea Eagles officials believed NSW State of Origin star could have played against the Warriors but, given his history, they opted against rushing their star player back.
“I haven’t played much footy so I am just excited to be back on the park,” Trbojevic told The Sunday Telegraph.
“I wanted to play against the Warriors but the medical staff opted to give me that extra time.
“I trained with the main group for the first time during the week. I’m feeling good and confident in the hamstring.”
Trbojevic has not played this season after injuring his problematic hamstring slipping his bathroom. He has played just 19 games in the past two years with a chronic left hamstring injury but the latest injury was to his ‘good’ right hamstring.
Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans said he cannot wait to again play alongside Trbojevic.
“That’s great news he has passed the test,” Cherry-Evans told ABC Sport. “It brings a big smile to my face. I’m really glad to hear that. I am looking forward to playing alongside Tom.
“He has started integrated training with us as a side. He is going to make us a better side.
“He can’t fix some of the problems we had in those first four weeks but I honestly believe we took a step in the right direction.
“It’s going to help us all as a side and when Tom comes in he will have his impact as well. We are going to be a better side next week.”
His return is timely given fill-in fullback Dylan Walker faces an extended stint on the sideline with a hamstring injury of his own. Back-rower Jack Gosiewski (foot) will also be missing.
Cherry-Evans said it is more than just Trobjevic’s attacking brilliance the Sea Eagles had missed.
“It’s the opportunities you can create for him and the opportunities he can create for his teammates,” Cherry-Evans. “He is an elite fullback. He can naturally create so many headaches.
“He has a good relationship with a few of us in the side. Stuff like that will help us, with the elite fullbacks comes the organisation of the defensive line. That’s certainly been noticeable for us defensively.”
Meanwhile, Josh McGuire may have played his last game for the Cowboys with the veteran forward ruled out of the clash against the Tigers on Sunday through injury.
While McGuire is expected to finalise a move to St George Illawarra as early as this week, it is an infected elbow which will see him miss the game against the Tigers.
Talks between the Dragons and the Cowboys are ongoing – focused around how much North Queensland will chip into McGuire’s contract for next season.
There is also a suggestion Joseph Leilua could earn a reprieve and line-up for the Tigers against North Queensland after being axed after round two.
There are also ongoing concerns for the immediate playing future of Parramatta’s Ryan Matterson who will again not play as he tries to make his return from concussion.
—Michael Carayannis
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