Reuben Garrick fractured back scans: Manly Sea Eagles star’s horror injury revealed

The controversial tackle which all but ruined Manly’s finals hopes has taken an ugly turn, with scans revealing the true extent of Reuben Garrick’s injury. Watch the incident.

Manly's Reuben Garrick is tackled in the air.

Manly fullback Reuben Garrick fractured his back following the controversial Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad tackle which has split rugby league.

Garrick fell heavily on his back after his legs were taken out from him by Warriors opposite No.1 Nikoll-Klodastad on Friday night. The tackle was not penalised nor did the match review committee charge Nicoll-Klokstad despite Garrick falling into a dangerous position. Garrick had jumped to retrieve a bouncing ball following a charge down from a Daly Cherry-Evans field goal attempt.

Scans have revealed Garrick has a “fractured transverse process” in his back. Despite the injury taking six weeks to heal Garrick will be named for the Sea Eagles on Tuesday and has indicated that he wants to play against Canterbury on Sunday.

Manly boss Tony Mestrov confirmed the news.

Manly's Reuben Garrick left with fractured back after this tackle.

“Everyone saw the tackle, people formulate their own views,” Mestrov said. “The proof is in the pudding. The rugby league community can form their own views given Reuben’s injury.”

It is understood Garrick can not do any further damage to his back but will need to try to mitigate the pain in order to play.

Sea Eagles officials are fuming at the decision not to award their side a crucial penalty which would have given them a two-point lead in the dying stages of the match with a regulation penalty goal attempt.

Garrick dropped the ball as he hit the ground with the Warriors going on to score just moments later.

As Warriors back-rower Marata Niukore raced to the tryline, Garrick was unable to give chase.

Fuming coach Anthony Seibold. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Reuben Garrick is facing a six-week recovery. Picture: NRL

The 29-22 loss against the Warriors ended Manly’s hopes of a top eight finish.

Manly coach Anthony Seibold said after the game he was “pissed off” and that his team was “duded” the call to not give his side a penalty.

NRL head of football Graham Annesley said the match officials got the call right declaring “under the existing rule, there was no requirement on the referees to form a view that that was a breach of the rules”.

Despite the decision being the right one according to the rule book, ARL chairman Peter V’landys has hinted that he will explore a potential rule change at the end of the season.

The Sea Eagles could be down to their third choice fullback to play Canterbury. Garrick had been filling in for the injured Tom Trbojevic.

The Sea Eagles have also dropped Josh Schuster for the penultimate game of the season.