NRL Casualty Ward: Roosters star Luke Keary on track for Round 1
THE NRL premiership favourites get a boost on the eve of the season, Storm’s fullback crisis and Titans’ backline woes — check out all the latest injury news!
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LUKE Keary has declared himself a certain starter for Round 1 in a boost for the Sydney Roosters.
The five-eighth has been sidelined with a cracked jaw suffered in training last month and missed his club’s two trial matches.
It was initially feared he would also be absent the opening round of the 2018 NRL season, but Keary has made a speedy recovery.
Keary will have final scans on his jaw today, and is confident he’ll be fit for the Roosters’ clash with Wests Tigers on Saturday, March 10.
In the other big news coming out of the final weekend of NRL trials:
* Billy Slater is racing the clock for the NRL premiership opener as Melbourne battles something of a fullback crisis;
* Star playmaker Anthony Milford made a successful return from shoulder surgery for the Broncos;
* Superstar Greg Inglis made a surprise appearance for the Rabbitohs in the Charity Shield, his first match since injuring his ACL;
* New recruit Josh Dugan left the field after a heavy whack to the jaw in Cronulla’s trial win over Wests Tigers;
* Brendan Elliot is in doubt for Round 1 after injuring his ankle in Gold Coast’s trial loss to the Warriors
BRONCOS
Anthony Milford made a successful return from shoulder surgery in Brisbane’s trial win over PNG Hunters in Port Moresby. Prop Korbin Sims (concussion) was the only concern for Brisbane after the match. Darius Boyd (hamstring) and Andrew McCullough (ACL) were rested from the match but both are eyeing Round 1 returns.
Andrew McCullough (ACL, Round 1)
Darius Boyd (Hamstring, Round 1)
Jack Bird (Shoulder, Round 1-4)
Andre Savelio (ACL, season)
BULLDOGS
Coach Dean Pay gave his B side an opportunity in the club’s final trial, meaning new recruit Aaron Woods (hamstring) will enter the season without any game time under his belt.
Aaron Woods (Hamstring, Round 1)
Moses Suli (Ankle, Indefinite)
COWBOYS
Fullback Lachlan Coote only lasted about 15 minutes of North Queensland’s trial against Melbourne before he left the field with hamstring soreness. The Cowboys are confident he’ll be right for Round 1. Centre Kane Linnett (pectoral) is sweating on scans.
Lachlan Coote (Hamstring, Round 1)
Kane Linnett (Pectoral, TBC)
Shaun Fensom (Broken leg, Round 1-4)
Josh Chudleigh (ACL, Indefinite)
DRAGONS
Utility Kurt Mann (calf) was a pre-game withdrawal from the Charity Shield.
Kurt Mann (Calf, Round 1)
EELS
Kane Evans made his return from a broken arm in Parramatta’s final trial, against the Knights.
Clint Gutherson (ACL, Round 4)
Tony Williams (Suspension, Round 3)
KNIGHTS
Tautau Moga and Daniel Saifiti both played their first matches of the year following off-season shoulder surgery, while Mitch Barnett (also shoulder) was rested as a precaution.
Mitch Barnett (Shoulder, Round 1)
Dylan Phythian (ACL, round 5)
PANTHERS
Waqa Blake and Corey Harawira-Naera both played their first minutes as they returned from shoulder reconstructions.
Tyrone May (ACL, Round 5)
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Ankle, Round 2)
Wayde Egan (Shoulder, Round 1)
Tyrone Phillips (Pectoral, Round 10)
RABBITOHS
Greg Inglis made a surprise early return in the Charity Shield, playing 20 minutes. The superstar played without strapping on his knee at left centre, and appeared relaxed and happy in his comeback from that ACL injury. Angus Crichton (Achilles) was also a late inclusion and scored a try. Adam Reynolds (foot) and Cameron Murray (quad) missed the game but are set for Round 1. Alex Johnston (ribs) will go for scans.
Adam Reynolds (Foot, Round 1)
Campbell Graham (Hand, TBC)
Cameron Murray (Quad, Round 1)
Alex Johnston (Ribs, TBC)
RAIDERS
Josh Hodgson is aiming for an August return after rupturing his ACL playing for England in the World Cup.
Josh Hodgson (ACL, Round 20)
ROOSTERS
Luke Keary (jaw) is is confident he’ll be right to play in the opening round against the Wests Tigers. New recruits Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco had their first runs in Roosters colours in the trial win over Manly.
Luke Keary (Jaw, Round 1)
SEA EAGLES
Jake Trbojevic (pectoral) and Jorge Taufua (ACL) made returns from serious injuries in Manly’s trial loss to the Roosters. Dylan Walker (broken leg) had hoped to be in contention for Round 1 but looks set to miss the opening month. Darcy Lussick injured his ankle in the first trial.
Dylan Walker (Leg, Round 5)
Darcy Lussick (Ankle, Round 4)
SHARKS
Josh Dugan left the field after a heavy whack to the jaw in Cronulla’s trial win over Wests Tigers. The Sharks coaching staff said Dugan would be fine for Round 1, but props Braden Uele (ribs) and Ava Seumanufagai (hamstring) will require scans. Paul Gallen missed the club’s final trial against Wests Tigers. Despite not featuring in the pre-season, Cronulla have declared their skipper will be available for round one. Kyle Flanagan broke his hand in the opening trial.
Josh Dugan (Jaw, Round 1)
Braden Uele (Ribs, TBC)
Ava Seumanufagai (Hamstring, TBC)
Kyle Flanagan (Broken hand, Round 3)
STORM
Billy Slater is racing the clock for the NRL premiership opener. Scans have cleared Slater of any major damage to his reconstructed shoulder after he suffered a knock in the World Club Challenge clash against Leeds. The Storm had a handy contingency plan in classy custodian Jahrome Hughes, only for the 23-year-old to suffer a dislocated shoulder against the Cowboys on Friday night. The potential absence of Hughes could tempt the Storm to expedite Slater’s return but coach Craig Bellamy pledged to take a cautious approach. He remains hopeful Slater will be cleared for their Round 1 clash against Canterbury on Saturday week. “We think Billy is a good chance of playing Round 1,” Bellamy said.
Billy Slater (Shoulder, Rould 1)
Jahrome Hughes (Shoulder, TBC)
Sam Kasiano (Ankle, Round 1)
Sandor Earl (ACL, Season)
Jesse Bromwich (Virus, Round 1)
TITANS
Brendan Elliot is in doubt for Round 1 after injuring his ankle in Gold Coast’s trial loss to the Warriors. Elliot joins outside backs Brenko Lee (knee) and Anthony Don (shoulder) in the recovery ward. Forwards Kevin Proctor and Jai Arrow missed the Warriors trial but are aiming for Round 1.
Read more on the Titans injuries at the Gold Coast Bulletin
Jai Arrow (Ribs, Round 1)
Kevin Proctor (Throat, Round 1)
Anthony Don (Shoulder, Round 1)
Brendan Elliot (Ankle, TBC)
Brenko Lee (Knee, TBC)
Ryan Simpkins (Knee, TBC)
Morgan Boyle (Shoulder, TBC)
Jack Stockwell (Shoulder, TBC)
Jarrod Wallace (Suspension, Round 3)
WARRIORS
Agnatius Paasi (knee) and Nathaniel Roache (foot) were injured in the trials. Gerard Beale is still recovering from a serious broken leg suffered in the
Gerard Beale (Broken leg, Round 10)
Agnatius Paasi (Knee, TBC)
WESTS TIGERS
Hooker Jacob Liddle will miss the first few weeks of the year as he finalises his rehab from a shoulder injury. Chris McQueen (neck) and Ben Matulino (niggles) both turned out for the club’s final trial.
Jacob Liddle (Shoulder, Round 3-4)