NRL casualty ward Round 23
MELBOURNE Storm skipper Cameron Smith headlines a stacked casualty ward as the run to the NRL finals heats up.
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MELBOURNE captain Cameron Smith will undergo further scans on Monday before getting the all-clear to play in next week’s NRL clash with Gold Coast.
The Storm on Saturday released an update on Smith’s health after suffering a back spasm in Friday’s win over Parramatta that forced the veteran from the field in the 35th minute.
However the news isn’t as good for Storm teammates Suliasi Vunivalu, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Brandon Smith, who are all set to be ruled out of the final two matches of the regular season.
Meanwhile, Will Chambers has copped a three week ban for a dangerous throw and halfback Jahrome Hughes was a pre-game withdrawal due to a knee injury.
Vunivalu succumbed to a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the second half against the Eels, while Asofa-Solomona also failed to finish due to an ankle issue.
Brandon Smith bravely attempted to play through a knee problem, however also exited midway through the second half and is now unlikely to feature until the finals.
Further scans are expected to reveal the extent of the damage for all four players.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy revealed post-match Cameron Smith had previously battled back issues.
In other injury news:
* The Broncos insist Origin lock Josh McGuire will be fit for Saturday’s blockbuster clash with the Roosters following his mysterious departure from training on Monday morning. McGuire walked off the Broncos’ training field at Red Hill just five minutes into the session following a discussion with coach Wayne Bennett.
* Warriors duo Shaun Johnson (ankle) and Blake Green (corked thigh) are both hopeful of playing next week against the Panthers, while Gerard Beale (hamstring) will be monitored.
* Cronulla’s injury woes continued with Luke Lewis (hamstring), Jesse Ramien (ankle) and Ricky Leutele (knee) all unable to complete the game against the Cowboys, while hooker Jayden Brailey (ear) was a late withdrawal.
* Boyd Cordner (dangerous throw) can avoid suspension with an early guilty plea, but will take 75 carry over points into the backend of the season, meaning any minor infraction will result in a suspension.
* Viliame Kikau, Waqa Blake, Tyrone May, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Danny Levi all escaped with fines for punching.
* Adam Reynolds (elbow) suffered an injury against the Broncos but finished the match and is expected to be available next week.
* Parramatta’s Tim Mannah (broken hand), Penrith’s James Fisher-Harris (shoulder), North Queensland’s Matt Scott (neck) and Newcastle’s Chris Heighington (rested) were pre-game withdrawals.
FULL NRL CASUALTY WARD
BRONCOS
Josh McGuire (Niggles, Round 24)
Andre Savelio (ACL, Season)
Matt Gillett (Broken neck, Season)
Payne Haas (Shoulder, Season)
Jack Bird (Sternum, Indefinite)
Jaydn Su’A (Leg/foot, Season)
BULLDOGS
Kieran Foran (Foot, Season)
Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Hand/Knee, Season)
Marcelo Montoya (Hamstring, Season)
COWBOYS
Sam Hoare (ACL, Season)
Michael Morgan (Bicep, Season)
Josh Chudleigh (Knee, Season)
Antonio Winterstein (Knee, Retired)
Jason Taumalolo (Suspension, Round 24)
Shaun Fensom (Concussion, Round 24)
Matt Scott (Neck, Round 24)
DRAGONS
Gareth Widdop (Shoulder, Indefinite)
Jason Nightingale (Shoulder/neck, Indefinite)
Paul Vaughan (Ankle, Finals week one)
EELS
Tony Williams (ACL, Season)
Beau Scott (ACL, Season)
Manu Ma’u (Cheekbone, Season)
Cameron King (Knee, Round 24)
Josh Hoffman (Shoulder, Season)
Kaysa Pritchard (Shoulder, Season)
Daniel Alvaro (Concussion/knee, Round 24)
Tim Mannah (Broken hand, Round 24)
Kirisome Auva’a (Foot, Round 24)
Kane Evans (Calf, Round 24)
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KNIGHTS
Slade Griffin (Knee, Season)
Tautau Moga (ACL, Season)
Jacob Saifiti (Shoulder, Round 24)
Connor Watson (Groin, Round 24)
Nathan Ross (Groin, Indefinite)
Jacob Lillyman (Abdominal, Indefinite)
Chris Heighington (Rested, Round 24)
PANTHERS
Sam McKendry (ACL, Season)
Tim Browne (Ruptured bowel, Retired)
Dylan Edwards (Shoulder, Season)
Peter Wallace (Shoulder, Retired)
Jarome Luai (Ankle, Season)
Jack Hetherington (Suspension, Round 25)
James Fisher-Harris (Shoulder, Round 24)
James Maloney (Neck, Round 25)
RABBITOHS
Campbell Graham (Wrist, Indefinite)
Alex Johnston (Hamstring, Round 24-25)
Robert Jennings (Hamstring, Finals)
Greg Inglis (Broken thumb, Round 24)
Adam Doueihi (ACL, Season)
Adam Reynolds (Elbow, Round 24)
RAIDERS
Ata Hingano (Ankle, Season)
Jack Wighton (Disciplinary, Season)
Jarrod Croker (Knee, Season)
Michael Oldfield (Knee, Season)
Aidan Sezer (Hamstring, Round 24)
ROOSTERS
Bernard Lewis (ACL, Season)
Luke Keary (Knee, Round 24)
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Ribs, Finals week 2)
SEA EAGLES
Apisai Koroisau (Foot, Season)
Curtis Sironen (ACL, Season)
Lachlan Croker (ACL, Season)
Akuila Uate (Ankle, Season)
SHARKS
Jack Williams (Pectoral, Season)
Edrick Lee (Shoulder, Round 24)
Wade Graham (Knee, TBC)
Luke Lewis (Hamstring, TBC)
Jesse Ramien (Ankle, TBC)
Ricky Leutele (Knee, TBC)
Jayden Brailey (Ear, Round 24)
STORM
Sam Kasiano (Knee, Round 25)
Ryan Hoffman (Hamstring, Season)
Jahrome Hughes (Knee, TBC)
Will Chambers (Suspension, Finals week 2)
Suliasi Vunivalu (Hamstring, TBC)
Cameron Smith (Back spasms, TBC)
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Ankle, TBC)
Brandon Smith (Knee, TBC)
TITANS
Dale Copley (Hamstring, season)
Max King (Shoulder, season)
Morgan Boyle (Shoulder, Season)
Michael Gordon (Wrist, TBC)
Tyrone Roberts-Davis (Neck, Season)
WARRIORS
Nathaniel Roache (Back, Season)
Tohu Harris (Knee, Round 24)
Sam Lisone (Suspension, Round 24)
Shaun Johnson (Ankle, Round 24)
Blake Green (Corked thigh, Round 24)
Gerard Beale (Hamstring, TBC)
WESTS TIGERS
Josh Reynolds (Shoulder, Season)
Corey Thompson (Ankle, Season)
Tim Grant (Knee, Round 24)
Josh Aloiai (Broken hand, Round 24)