NRL casualty ward round 4: The key players struck down at your club

WESTS Tigers’ woes have been compounded by an injury to Luke Brooks, while Kieran Foran’s comeback stalled on the launchpad.

WESTS Tigers’ woes have been compounded by an injury to halfback Luke Brooks in their loss to Melbourne Storm.

Brooks left the field midway through the second half at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday and failed to return, and could be missing for an extended period.

Melbourne, who lost in-form prop Jordan McLean to a calf injury ahead of the match, were further hit when his replacement Christian Welch succumbed to concussion.

Kieran Foran’s first match since his split from the Parramatta Eels stalled on the launchpad. Foran was due to debut alongside Shaun Johnson in the halves for the New Zealand Warriors but was forced out with a hamstring injury sustained in the warm-up.

Luke Brooks injured his hamstring against the Storm at Leichhardt Oval. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Meanwhile, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says he won’t risk star hooker Josh Hodgson after the Englishman suffered a sternum injury in Friday’s loss to Brisbane.

Hodgson lasted just 45 minutes of Canberra’s 13-12 defeat, with Adam Clydesdale playing out the match.

”I think it just might be a bit of cartilage,” Stuart said of Hodgson.

“We’ll have a look at it. It’s early in the season and we won’t risk Josh next week if he needs a week or so off.“

Ricky Stuart won’t take any risks with Josh Hodgson

Elliott Whitehead faces one or two weeks out unless he proves his innocence after being charged for tripping Alex Glenn.

In other judiciary news under-siege Canterbury have been dealt another blow, with halfback Moses Mbye facing up to two matches on the sidelines after being cited for a shoulder charge.

Mbye was one of two players hit with the charge from Saturday’s games, Gold Coast captain Ryan James facing a similar suspension from his side’s 32-26 loss to North Queensland.

The pair will each miss one game if they enter plea guilty to the grade-one offences, while they will spend two weeks on the sideline if they elect to fight it and lose at the judiciary.

Mbye was charged for his first half hit on Manly’s Curtis Sironen as he was attempting to make a kick.

James was cited for his 18th-minute hit on Cowboy Patrick Kaufusi.

Kieran Foran’s Warriors debut was over before it began.

In other injury news from round 4:

* Souths will monitor captain Sam Burgess after his concussion but he is expected to be cleared for Friday’s duel with the Cowboys, as is centre Siosifa Talaka

* Roosters lock Aidan Guerra underwent a head injury assessment but was cleared. Winger Daniel Tupou suffered an ankle sprain, but is expected to play against Manly at Allianz Stadium on Friday.

* Knights forward Jacob Saifiti and hooker Danny Levi were taken from the field for head injury assessments but returned to finish the match. Both players will be monitored this week before Newcastle’s road clash against premiers Cronulla on Saturday.

* Eels pair Frank Pritchard and Manu Ma’u came from the field for concussion tests but were cleared and returned

* Sharks duo Wade Graham (leg) and James Maloney (lower back) also suffered injuries but played out the match against the Eels

* Titan Agnatius Paasi has also added his name to the long injury list on the Gold Coast after coming off with a shoulder injury

FULL NRL CASUALTY WARD

Broncos

Tevita Pangai Jr (Ankle, Round 4)

Tom Opacic (shoulder, indefinite)

Mitchell Dodds (leg, indefinite)

Bulldogs

Kerrod Holland (Shoulder, Round 7)

Will Hopoate (Fractured cheekbone, Round 9)

Richie Kennar (Foot, Round 6)

Asipeli Fine (Lung, Round 6)

Chase Stanley (Knee, Indefinite)

Moses Mbye (Suspension, TBC)

Cowboys

Lachlan Coote (Calf, Round 4)

Justin O’Neill (Hamstring, Indefinite)

Kyle Feldt (Ankle, Indefinite)

Antonio Winterstein (Broken forearm, Round 7)

Josh Chudleigh (ACL, Season)

Matt Scott (ACL, Season)

Jason Taumalolo (Suspension, Round 5)

Dragons

Yaw Kiti Glymin (Shoulder, Indefinite)

Will Matthews (Dislocated hip, Indefinite)

Drew Hutchison (ACL, Season)

Eels

John Folau (Wrist, Round 6)

Matt Woods (Shoulder, Round 8)

Peni Terepo (Disciplinary, Round 4)

Greg Leleisiuao (ACL, Round 12)

Will Smith (Knee, Round 6)

Isaac De Gois (Concussion, Indefinite)

Kenny Edwards (Disciplinary, Round 8)

Corey Norman (Hamstring, Round 4)

Cameron King (Sternum, Indefinite)

Kaysa Pritchard (Ankle, Indefinite)

Tepai Moeroa (Facing suspension, TBC)

Knights

Pauli Pauli (Hip, Round 8)

Rory Kostjasyn (Throat, Round 6)

Jarrod Mullen (Drugs ban, Indefinite)

Dylan Phythian (ACL, Season)

Sam Mataora (Knee, Indefinite)

Chanel Mata’utia (Knee, Round 4)

Jack Cogger (Pelvis, Round 16)

Jaelen Feeney (Knee, Indefinite)

Brendan Elliott (Concussion, Indefinite)

Panthers

Josh Mansour (ACL, Round 12)

Sam McKendry (ACL, Season)

James Fisher-Harris (Fractured cheekbone, Indefinite)

Bryce Cartwright (Ankle, Round 4)

Rabbitohs

Aaron Gray (Medial, Round 10)

Jake Goisweski (Knee, Round 12)

Connor Tracey (ACL, Indefinite)

Greg Inglis (ACL, Season)

George Burgess (Possible suspension, TBC)

Hymel Hunt (Possible suspension, TBC)

Braidon Burns (Possible suspension, TBC)

Raiders

Kato Ottio (ACL, Indefinite)

Kurt Baptiste (Achilles, Indefinite)

Joseph Tapine (Broken finger, Round 6)

Roosters

Sio Siua Taukeiaho (ACL, Indefinite)

Kane Evans (Calf, Round 4)

Blake Ferguson (Rib cartilage, Round 4)

Sea Eagles

Brad Parker (Knee, Round 5)

Brett Stewart (Knee, Season)

Steve Matai (Neck, Season)

Darcy Lussick (Wrist, Round 6)

Addin Fonua-Blake (Suspension, Round 4)

Martin Taupau (Suspension, Round 4)

Lloyd Perrett (Eye socket, Round 6)

Sharks

Daniel Mortimer (Knee, Round 8)

Wade Graham (Concussion, TBC)

Storm

Cameron Munster (Broken jaw, Round 8)

Suliasi Vunivalu (Dislocated shoulder, Round 8)

Tohu Harris (Foot, Round 9)

Jordan McLean (calf, TBC)

Christian Welch (concussion, TBC)

Tigers

Tim Simona (Disciplinary, Indefinite)

Jacob Liddle (Shoulder, Round 4)

Luke Brooks (hamstring, TBC)

Titans

David Shillington (Shoulder, Season)

Nathan Peats (Shoulder, Round 9)

Pat Politoni (Broken arm, Round 4)

John Olive (Pectoral, Indefinite)

Daniel Vidot (Groin, Indefinite)

Anthony Don (Dislocated shoulder, Indefinite)

Karl Lawton (Dislocated shoulder, Indefinite)

Jarryd Hayne (Ankle, Round 7)

Will Zillman (Calf, Indefinite)

Daniel Sarginson (Knee, Round 6)

Tyrone Roberts (Hamstring, Indefinite)

Agnatius Paasi (Shoulder, TBC)

Ryan James (Suspension, TBC)

Warriors

Ben Matulino (Knee, Round 10)

Manu Vatuvei (Knee, Indefinite)

Kieran Foran (Hamstring, TBC)