NRL Casualty Ward: Jack Hetherington out for season, Ray Stone ruptures ACL
The Bulldogs have received the worst possible news on a fiery forward, while matchwinner Ray Stone has played his last game for the Eels.
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Canterbury forward Jack Hetherington will miss the remainder of the season after scans revealed he would need surgery on the shoulder he injured against Manly on Sunday night.
Bulldogs head of football Phil Gould confirmed the diagnosis on social media on Monday, revealing Hetherington had suffered a bony bankart fracture of the glenoid in his shoulder.
In layman’s terms, it means Hetherington not only tore the labrum cartilage, but also some of the bone. The injury can take up to 12 months to heal.
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@NRL_Bulldogs Not good news for Jack Hetherington. He has a bony bankart fracture of the glenoid. Basically his shoulder popped out and back in again. However, it caused significant damage on the way out. Will require surgery.
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) March 28, 2022
“Basically his shoulder popped out and back in again,” Gould wrote.
“However, it caused significant damage on the way out. Will require surgery.”
Hetherington injured the shoulder in the first half and played on for several minutes before being taken from the field.
He left the sheds after full-time with his arm in a sling.
Hero’s Eels career over
Parramatta’s golden-point hero Ray Stone’s worst fears have been realised with confirmation he suffered a season-ending knee injury while scoring the match-winning try against Melbourne at the weekend.
The Eels on Monday confirmed Stone had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament that will end his Parramatta career, with the utility forward due to join expansion franchise the Dolphins on a two-year deal from next season.
“He will undergo surgery in the coming days and then begin his rehabilitation for the 2023 season,” the Eels said in a statement.
The 24-year old underwent scans after he was left clutching his right knee in agony upon scoring his second try against the Storm that gave Parramatta a 28-24 win.
“Now there’s a safe sport,” Stone posted in reference to a UFC fight playing in the background on the television.
The Eels could welcome back edge back-rower Ryan Matterson from a hamstring injury this week, which would give the Eels some versatility on their bench.
Hooker Mitch Rein (sternum) could fill that utility role, but his place in the 17 to face St George Illawarra on Sunday could hinge on Matterson’s availability.
Bryce Cartwright, who was 18th man against the Storm, is another option to replace Stone.
Versatile forward Marata Niukore is still suffering from a calf injury and is unlikely to be rushed back.
At Penrith, Chris Smith has undergone scans for a possible cheekbone injury. Smith was collected by the elbow of Newcastle forward Mitch Barnett, who was sent off for the shot, on Saturday in Bathurst.
Smith failed the head injury assessment in the 33rd minute and did not return.
It’s believed Smith had ‘bone bruising’ but looks to have avoided any serious injury. Smith was spotted sitting near coach Ivan Cleary on Sunday at a NSW Cup match between the Panthers and the Knights.
Silver lining to Broncos blow
The Broncos will be without boom backrower Jordan Riki for this weekend’s clash against the Warriors.
But in better news, prop Tom Flegler is set to play for the first time this season in a much-needed engine room boost.
Riki copped a knock to the ribs in the 20th minute of the Queensland derby on Sunday afternoon and was ruled out for the rest of the game.
The 22-year-old suffered a suspected rib cartilage injury and coach Kevin Walters admitted he was unlikely to play this weekend.
“I don’t expect him to be available for next week,” Walters said.
“It’s unfortunate for Jordy but this squad has good depth.
“We’ve got good players here to cover
Riki’s absence will force Walters to reshuffle his forward pack, with young gun TC Robati in the frame to fill the vacant starting backrow spot.
Keenan Palasia is another option for Walters to play in the backrow against the Warriors, which would see Kobe Hetherington moved to the No.8 prop spot.
Flegler is set to make his return to the NRL this weekend, after serving a four-match ban from a high shot late last season, and will likely start on the bench with his lack of game time this year.
Walters said Flegler’s return would be a welcomed addition to the team following Sunday’s 38-12 loss to the Cowboys.
“It will be nice to get him back playing,” he said.
“He’s missed a lot of football.
“We can’t expect too much from him next week either because he’s been out for a bit as well.
“In the long-term, I’m still very keen, very excited where this team can go.”
Dragons feel sting over broken wing
St George Illawarra winger Cody Ramsey is set to miss Sunday’s game against Parramatta after suffering a hamstring injury.
Ramsey has been a fixture in the Dragons side through the opening three rounds of the season but club officials confirmed he would spend some time on the sidelines after injuring himself during his side’s loss to Cronulla at the weekend.
The Dragons have options in the outside backs including the Feagaio brothers - Mathew and Max. Tauatu Moga was 18th man against the Sharks and may come into contention as well.
While Ramsey will miss the game against the in-form Eels, the Dragons will have George Burgess available after the NRL elected not to enforce the no-fault stand-down rule on the English prop.
Tigers’ woes go from bad to worse
Wests Tigers have suffered a further blow with boom prop Stefano Utoikamanu sustaining a syndesmosis injury and could miss about 10 weeks.
The Tigers were sweating on the results of scans on Saturday to reveal the full extent of Utoikamanu’s injury but there are fears it could sideline the 21-year-old long-term. He was seen leaving Campbelltown Stadium on crutches and officials have genuine concern for his immediate playing future.
The Tigers will now be without argurably their three best players with Utoikamanu joining Adam Doueihi and Jackson Hastings now watching on.
The Tigers could now be without nine first string players ahead of their clash against the Titans on Thursday as they face the real prospect of a winless month to start the season.
The Tigers are hopeful Ken Maumalo (ankle) and James Roberts (quad) – who both missed Friday’s loss against the Warriors – will be fit to play the Gold Coast. But they may be forced to skip another game because of a short turnaround.
Back-rower Kelma Tuilagi (concussion) is considered the best chance of taking his spot back in the Tigers side.
The Tigers will certainly be without half Jackson Hastings (suspension) while Shawn Blore, Adam Doueihi and Tommy Talau (all knee) plus Asu Kepaoa remain on the long-term injury list.
In some good news for the Tigers, interchange forward Alex Seyfarth was cleared by the match review committee despite being placed on report.
Teammate Jake Simpkin was the only player charged by the match review committee following Friday’s clash. He has been fined for a crusher tackle.
Meanwhile, the NRL are expected to announce a decision on George Burgess’ immediate playing future by Monday.
Burgess did not play for St George Illawarra on Thursday night just days after being charged for sexually touching a person without consent.
STORM STAR IN DOUBT FOR ADDO-CARR RETURN
Russell Gould
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy said star recruit Xavier Coates might not be available for next week’s clash with Canterbury after a week of Covid and injury disruptions ended with an extra-time loss to Parramatta.
Storm should regain first-choice hooker Harry Grant for the game after he was forced into seven-days of Covid isolation during the week.
Coates pulled out before the game with hamstring tightness forcing Melbourne into yet another backline reshuffle having already lost Grant and his housemates, the team’s back-up hookers, to Covid as Brandon Smith returned after missing just one match with a broken hand.
“It’s not ideal, it was a disruptive week and I suppose to put the icing on the cake today with Xavier dropping out … it happens in sport,” Bellamy said.
“You’ve got to deal with it and we probably had our best training session on Wednesday for the year. I thought our preparation was pretty good coming in.
“It’s disruptive but it happens and you have to learn to deal with it.”
Bellamy said the inconsistencies in his team played more of a role in the loss, his team’s first for the year, and the “bit of luck” they needed in the latter stages didn’t appear.
“Whoever won was going to have a bit of luck go their way. It is what it is.
“I just thought we were inconsistent. We did some real good things and did some things that weren‘t so good.”
Bellamy was quick to praise Smith, who scored his team’s opening try and returned after a short stint on the bench to produce a crucial line break which helped his team level the scores in the dying minutes of regular time.
“He was struggling at the end of the first half but he hung in there and he did a pretty good job for us,” Bellamy said.
“He hasn‘t done much work at all, he was short of a run. But he’s a quality player, and we were out of dummy halves.”
Bellamy said Coates was “in doubt” for next week’s clash with the Bulldogs which will see Storm premiership winger Josh Addo-Carr return to Melbourne for the first time.
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