NRL casualty ward Round 16

Brisbane Broncos playmaker Anthony Milford has pulled off a miracle recovery after originally being ruled out for 12 weeks.

Matt Gillett is in doubt for Origin 3 on Wednesday night after suffering a minor groin injury at training on Friday. Minor groin injuries usually don’t require an extended recovery time (1-3 weeks) but can commonly linger and get more painful as they cool down.

NRL players will often play through minor groin complaints but even if Gillett is able to suit up on Wednesday night the risk for in-game aggravation will be there on such a short turnaround.

Anthony Milford had a cortisone injection this week in an effort to delay surgery on a lateral meniscus injury until the offseason. The Broncos are hopeful Milford will be fit for Round 17.

The cortisone injection is likely used in an attempt to decrease the inflammation associated with a meniscus tear, and unfortunately this inflammation and associated pain can limit explosiveness/acceleration.

Anthony Milford has avoided surgery.

Broncos coach Anthony Seibold said Milford will require minor clean out surgery at some point with a 4-6 week recovery, but he is hoping to delay this until the offseason. With Milford requiring surgery at some stage the challenge in rehab in the short term will be controlling symptoms (pain/inflammation) enough to allow adequate knee function (range of movement/strength).

This is an issue that is often easily aggravated and there is a risk for further damage to the meniscus, so even if Milford is able to delay surgery it will be something he will continue to manage for rest of the season.

Despite Nathan Cleary being ruled out of Origin 3 with a high grade lateral ankle ligament injury he shouldn’t miss extended time for the Panthers. After suffering the injury in Origin 2 Cleary underwent extensive treatment in an effort to be fit for the deciding game, and was only ruled out after suffering some soreness when completing agility drills earlier this week. He was still able to run well in a straight line and is likely aiming for a return in Round 17-18.

Nathan Cleary is out of Origin with an ankle injury.

Jazz Tevaga failed to finish the Warriors’ Round 16 game after suffering an ankle injury. After originally suffering the injury in the first half, Tevaga had his ankle strapped up and returned, but ultimately succumbed to the injury midway through the second half. The injury mechanism brought concern for a medial/high ankle sprain, which is the same injury Tevaga missed two weeks with last month. Worst case, Tevaga may require a week or two to let the injury settle, but the fact he was able to return to the field was a positive sign.

Albert Vete dislocated his shoulder in the Storm’s victory on Thursday night. Vete injured the same shoulder earlier in 2019, and considering the ease at which the dislocation appeared to occur Vete may be looking at a surgical review this week. If he requires a shoulder reconstruction this usually comes with a 3-6 month recovery.

Jai Arrow is back running, in a way, after surgery on a high grade syndemosis injury sustained three weeks ago. Arrow ran on an underwater treadmill this week, which is used to decrease the weight going down through the ankle whilst allowing an athlete to return to running earlier. Arrow is aiming for a return in Round 19-20 for the Titans, which would be a 6-7 week return to play after syndesmosis tightrope surgery.

Patrick Herbert was ruled out for the Warriors this week after suffering a hamstring injury. Whilst there has been no reported severity as yet, even the most minor of hamstring strains usually require at least two weeks recovery considering their high recurrence rate.

Joseph Manu failed a concussion test for the Roosters and did not return.

Joseph Manu comes off with concussion.

Sean O’Sullivan , Paul Gallen, Matt Moylan (all hamstring) and Gehamat Shibasaki (compound finger fracture) failed to finish the Broncos v Sharks clash.

FULL NRL CASUALTY WARD

BRONCOS

Sean O’Sullivan (Hamstring, TBC)

Matt Gillett (Groin, TBC)

Gehamat Shibasaki (Compound finger fracture, TBC)

Anthony Milford (Knee, Round 17)

Richie Kennar (Shoulder, Season)

Jamayne Isaako (Personal reasons, Indefinite)

Jack Bird (ACL, Season)

Tom Dearden (Ankle, Round 18-20)

BULLDOGS

Kieran Foran (Hamstring, Round 17)

Kerrod Holland (Knee, Round 17)

Lachlan Lewis (Ankle, Round 17-18)

Jeremy Marshall-King (Knee, Round 17)

Fa’amanu Brown (Leg, Round 18)

COWBOYS

Michael Morgan (Concussion, Origin 3)

Kurt Baptiste (ACL, Season)

Coen Hess (Knee, Indefinite)

Ben Hampton (Biceps, Round 22-25)

Te Maire Martin (Bleed on brain, Indefinite)

Nene MacDonald (Ankle, Season)

Matt Scott (Shoulder, Round 17)

Gideon Gela-Mosby (Collarbone, Round 18-22)

Justin O’Neill (Spleen, Indefinite)

Mitch Dunn (Shoulder, Season)

DRAGONS

Tariq Sims (Suspension, Round 17)

Zac Lomax (Broken thumb, Round 17)

Gareth Widdop (Shoulder, Round 20)

Jack de Belin (Stood down, Indefinite)

James Graham (Leg, Round 19-20)

EELS

Peni Terepo (Suspension, Round 20)

Kaysa Pritchard (Retired)

Waqa Blake (Knee, Round 21-22)

Ray Stone (Ankle, Round 24)

Michael Jennings (Knee, Round 21)

KNIGHTS

Edrick Lee (Broken arm, Indefinite)

Kalyn Ponga (Calf, Round 18)

Mitchell Barnett (Suspension, Round 18)

Slade Griffin (Knee, Indefinite)

Nathan Ross (Foot, Retired)

PANTHERS

Nathan Cleary (Ankle, Round 17)

Tyrone May (Stood Down, Indefinite)

Tim Grant (Pectoral, Season)

Caleb Aekins (Shoulder, Indefinite)

RABBITOHS

Alex Johnston (Bone bruising to leg, Round 17)

George Burgess (Suspension, Finals)

Greg Inglis (Shoulder, Retired)

Cory Denniss (Shoulder, Round 20)

Kurt Dillon (Ankle, Indefinite)

Sam Burgess (Shoulder, Round 17)

Tom Burgess (Ankle, Round 20)

RAIDERS

Nick Cotric (Ankle, Round 17)

Joey Leilua (Bulging disc, Season)

Brad Abbey (Knee, Season)

Hudson Young (Suspension, Round 19)

Ata Hingano (Thumb, Round 20-22)

Luke Bateman (Knee, Indefinite)

ROOSTERS

Joseph Manu (Concussion, TBC)

Siosiua Taukeiaho (Concussion, TBC)

Jake Friend (Biceps, Round 17-20)

SHARKS

Paul Gallen (Hamstring, TBC)

Matt Moylan (Hamstring, TBC)

Andrew Fifita (Suspension, Round 17)

SEA EAGLES

Api Koroisau (Ankle, Round 20)

Toafofoa Sipley (Knee, Season)

Albert Hopoate (ACL, Season)

Brad Parker (Broken jaw, Round 17-18)

STORM

Albert Vete (Shoulder, TBC)

Curtis Scott (Foot, Round 20)

TIGERS

Mahe Fonua (Foot, Round 23)

Ben Matulino (Knee, Indefinite)

TITANS

Tyrone Peachey (Pectoral, Round 17)

Jai Arrow (Ankle, Round 19-20)

Ryan James (ACL, season)

Michael Gordon (Blood clot, Round 17)

WARRIORS

Nathaniel Roache (ACL, Season)

Tohu Harris (Knee, Round 21)

Jazz Tevaga (Ankle, TBC)

Patrick Herbert (Hamstring, TBC)