NRL Casualty Ward Round 10: Welch gets lucky, injury to Roosters star

It’s not often an injury misdiagnosis could be considered a feel good story, but that was certainly the case for the Melbourne Storm this week. EVERY INJURY AT EVERY CLUB

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It’s not often a player suffering an injury could be considered a feel good story, but that was certainly the case for Storm forward Christian Welch this week.

Welch suffered a meniscus injury and will require 4-6 weeks recovery, which was a significant relief after the initial fears of an left knee ACL injury were reported on Thursday night. Welch had previously suffered an ACL rupture in his left knee in 2017, and after he pulled up during an innocuous kick chase shortly before half time many were fearing the worst.

He reportedly “knew straight away” what he had done, and the medical staff’s initial assessment suggested another ACL rupture had occurred. Thankfully scans on Friday showed Welch’s ACL was still intact. It is quite rare for an ACL injury to be “misdiagnosed” by hands on tests performed by the medical staff; this testing is highly accurate at identifying an ACL rupture with the following MRI scans often just confirming what the medical staff already know. Thankfully for Welch and the Storm this was one of the rare cases where all was not as it seemed, and Welch will not be facing his second ACL reconstruction in 2 years.

The Cowboys were dealt another injury blow to an outside back with Ben Hampton leaving early in the game with a biceps injury. Hampton came out of a tackle pointing at his lower biceps, just above the elbow, and was removed from the field immediately and went up the tunnel. The Cowboys medical staff confirmed monday that Hampton had suffered a ruptured biceps and will undergo surgery.

Sio Siua Taukeiaho did not return in the 2nd half of the Roosters loss to the Broncos after suffering a groin injury. Minor groin strains often result in a player being considered “day to day”; they often don’t require an extended recovery period. However groin injuries commonly linger and are quite easily reaggravated, so Taukeiaho will have to be diligent with his rehab to ensure the problem does not reoccur in the next month.

Nathaniel Roache was ruled out this week after suffering a cork to his back during Magic Round. Another injury that is somewhat of a relief considering Roache’s history with back injury; he missed the entire 2018 season after surgery on a lumbar spine (lower back) issue. This latest injury is reportedly unrelated, and while a contusion (cork) can be painful and limiting in the short term it usually does not require a long absence. Would hope for a return in the next 1-2 weeks for Roache.

Dylan Brown returned to light running this week as he continues recovery from a stress fracture in his spine. While this is a significant step forward in his rehab process, his expected return to the NRL would still be considered indefinite. Brown’s progress will be symptom guided, so if he experiences pain/stiffness/discomfort at any stage he will have to ease back. He is hopeful of returning sometime during mid season but will not risk a return if not at 100%.

Alex Johnston will miss up to a month after minor surgery on his knee this week. Minor arthroscopic knee surgeries such as a meniscus “trim” or removal of floating cartilage causes minimal trauma to the knee itself, and return to play can usually be achieved within 3-4 weeks.

Adam Elliott of the Bulldogs (centre) is tackled by Jesse Ramien (top) of the Knights during the Round 9 NRL match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Newcastle Knights. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

Adam Elliott was ruled out for the Bulldogs this week with a minor syndesmosis injury (high ankle sprain). Although these injuries are usually trickier to rehab than the more common lateral ankle sprains, Elliott is still only expected to miss 2-3 weeks.

FULL NRL CASUALTY WARD

BRONCOS

Jack Bird (ACL, Season)

Andrew McCullough (Knee, Round 14-16)

BULLDOGS

Adam Elliott (Ankle, Round 12)

Jayden Okunbor (Foot, Round 15-17)

COWBOYS

Ben Hampton (Biceps, Round 22-25)

Enari Tuala (Quad, Round 13)

Te Maire Martin (Bleed on brain, Indefinite)

Nene MacDonald (Ankle, Round 21-season)

DRAGONS

Gareth Widdop (Shoulder, Round 20)

Jack de Belin (Stood down, Indefinite)

Corey Norman (Cheekbone, Round 13-14)

EELS

Michael Jennings (Calf, Round 12)

Dylan Brown (Back, Indefinite)

Nathan Brown (Pectoral, Round 14)

Kaysa Pritchard (Personal leave, Indefinite)

Ray Stone (Hamstring, Round 12)

KNIGHTS

Slade Griffin (Knee, Indefinite)

Aidan Guerra (Ankle, Round 20-23)

Nathan Ross (Foot, Retired)

PANTHERS

James Maloney (Suspension, Round 12)

Isaah Yeo (Shoulder, Round 13-15)

Malakai Watene-Zelezniak (Rib cartilage, Round 11)

Sam McKendry (Knee, Indefinite)

Tyrone May (Stood Down, Indefinite)

Wayde Egan (Shoulder, Round 12-13)

Jed Cartwright (Shoulder, Round 14)

RABBITOHS

Greg Inglis (Shoulder, Retired)

Adam Doueihi (Knee, Round 12)

Braidon Burns (Hamstring, Round 12-14)

Kyle Turner (Toe, Round 14-15)

Alex Johnston (Knee, Round 13-14)

Cory Denniss (Shoulder, round 20)

Kurt Fillon (Ankle, Indefenite)

RAIDERS

John Bateman (Eye socket, Round 13-15)

Joey Leilua (Bulging disc, Season)

Joseph Tapine (Ankle, Round 17-19)

Jordan Rapana (Knee, Round 13-14)

ROOSTERS

Brett Morris (Knee, Round 12)

Jake Friend (Biceps, Round 19-22)

SHARKS

Aaron Woods (Foot, Round 16)

Wade Graham (Knee, Round 13)

Shaun Johnson (Hamstring, Round 13)

SEA EAGLES

Lachlan Croker (Hamstring, Round 12)

Moses Suli (Finger, Round 13-15)

Toafofoa Sipley (Knee, Season)

Tom Trbojevic (Hamstring, Round 12-13)

Albert Hopoate (ACL, Season)

Daly Cherry-Evans (Ankle, Round 12-13)

Trent Hodkinson (Knee, Round 12)

STORM

Christian Welch (Knee, Round 14-16)

Albert Vete (Shoulder, Round 12)

Curtis Scott (Foot, Round 22)

Scott Drinkwater (Pectoral, Round 14)

Tom Eisenhuth (Throat, Indefinite)

TIGERS

Chris Lawrence (Broken jaw, Round 12-14)

Josh Reynolds (Knee, Round 12)

TITANS

Michael Gordon (Leg, Round 12)

Philip Sami (Ankle, Indefinite)

Nathan Peats (Pectoral, Round 16)

Ryan James (ACL, season)

WARRIORS

Nathaniel Roache (Back, Round 12)

Agnatius Paasi (Suspension, Round 12)