NRL 2023 Casualty Ward: Roosters stars Connor Watson, Joey Manu and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves all hit with injury
With two Roosters stars already going down, another has suffered an injury setback that will sideline him for more than half of the season. All the latest injury news.
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The Sydney Roosters’ preseason injury dramas have suffered another setback with star utility Connor Watson now expected to be sidelined for more than half the NRL season.
Watson picked up a knee injury at training in early January but until now it was only confirmed he would miss the start of the season.
But after being spotted over the weekend being pushed around Terrigal in a wheelchair, it is understood the 26-year-old could be out of action until as late as round 19.
It comes on the back of injury blows for Joey Manu and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves who were both ruled out of this weekend’s All Stars clash.
Manu suffered a facial fracture at training camp in Queenstown last week while Waerea-Hargreaves has a back and hamstring issue.
The Roosters have indicated both should be ready for round one.
Watson played 21 games for the Roosters in 2022 after his return to the club from Newcastle on a two-year deal that expires at the end of 2023.
DOUBLE BLOW FOR ROOSTERS, EEL SIDELINED
The Roosters have suffered a double blow in the countdown to the NRL season kick-off with star centre Joey Manu suffering a facial fracture and Test forward Jared Waerea-Hargreaves plagued by his hamstring issues.
As a result, the duo have also been rubbed out of the NRL All Stars match next weekend.
Manu is no stranger to a facial injury, having required three metal plates to help repair a horrible break suffered in 2021 after being collected high by Rabbitohs rival Latrell Mitchell.
The injuries occured in Queenstown, New Zealand, where the Roosters are completing the final phase of their pre-season before their first trial against the Storm next Sunday.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Roosters confirmed that the duo had been injured at training.
“Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Joseph Manu have both been ruled out of the NRL All Stars Match following injuries sustained at training,’’ the Roosters statement read.
“Waerea-Hargreaves has had a flare up of a lower back and hamstring complaint.
“Manu has suffered a minor facial fracture whilst training with the team in Queenstown.”
Two of the Roosters most influential figures, both Manu and Waerea-Hargreaves are almost certain to be kept on ice in the lead-up to round one.
Waerea-Hargreaves was forced to miss a World Cup semi-final with the Kiwis last year due to hamstring issues.
The Roosters are drawn to play The Dolphins in an historic season opener for the NRL’s new franchise on Sunday, March 5.
BROKEN JAW LEAVES EELS RACING CLOCK FOR ROUND 1
The Eels have suffered another blow to their back row ahead of round one with ball-playing forward Bryce Cartwright suffering a broken jaw.
Already without the suspended forward Ryan Matterson for the opening three rounds, Cartwright is racing the clock to be ready for the opening game of the season between Parramatta and Melbourne on March 2.
Cartwright suffered the injury upon the Eels’ return to pre-season training in January with a heavy body check shattering his jaw.
He will miss both of the Eels pre-season trial matches against Penrith next Saturday and a final trial before the new season against the Knights on February 17.
The off-contract Cartwright is pushing to be fit for selection for round one.
Eels coach Brad Arthur has options to cover the potential absence of Cartwright and Matterson, including untried new buys Jack Murchie, Jiriah Momoisea, J’Maine Hopgood and Matt Doorey.
PANTHERS STAR SUFFERS PRE-SEASON SETBACK
Premiers Penrith have suffered a significant blow to their pursuit of being crowned world champions for the first time in 56-years with outstanding forward Liam Martin suffering a shoulder injury.
Martin is in serious doubt of missing out on the Panthers side that will face St Helens in the World Club Challenge on February 18 at BlueBet Stadium.
The NSW State of Origin forward is understood to have suffered an AC joint injury during a wrestling session earlier this week.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary is planning on taking a cautious approach to the club’s pre-season fixtures by not playing any player with a niggle or injury in the lead up to the season proper.
The Panthers are also scheduled to trial against Parramatta next Saturday before turning their focus to the World Club Challenge.
The World Club Challenge features the best team from the UK Super League - St Helens - against the best team from the NRL in Penrith.
However, due to the impact of Covid it has been almost three years since the World Club Challenge was last played.
The Panthers have never won the title after being defeated by Wigan in 1991 and Bradford in 2004 in their only two previous attempts.
Almost 8,000 tickets have been sold for the historic clash.
Martin, who on Wednesday extended his future to Penrith until the end of 2024, is expected to use the remainder of the pre-season to recover from the injury in time for round one.
He ran with the team on Thursday, but was refrained from any drills that required contact.
The Panthers will open their 2023 season with a home game against Brisbane on March 3.
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