NRL Casualty Ward: Crushing setback as Tesi Niu ruled out for up to four months

Tesi Niu’s injury is far worse than first thought with the young Brisbane Broncos fullback facing a long lay-off and possible surgery.

Tesi Niu has suffered a crushing setback with Brisbane’s first-choice fullback facing up to four months on the sidelines — and possible surgery — after his latest injury blow.

Niu injured his hamstring for the second time in eight weeks in Brisbane’s 40-12 loss to Penrith on Friday night and it was initially expected the Broncos custodian would miss up to six weeks.

But scans on Sunday revealed the worst-case scenario: a grade-three tear to his left hamstring which will rule out Niu for at least 10 weeks, and as much as 16 if he opts for surgery.

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In February, Niu sustained a grade-two strain to his other hamstring, but his fresh tear could see the 20-year-old sidelined until round 22, leaving his 2022 campaign in tatters.

Tesi Niu will spend up to six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. Picture: NRL Images

Brisbane head of performance Dave Ballard said the Broncos will learn this week if Niu can rehabilitate the injury without surgery — or must go under the knife.

“Tesi will see the specialist later this week to determine if he will require any surgery, and we will move forward from there,” Ballard said.

“We are looking at a recovery period of at least 10 weeks without an operation, and up to four months if surgery is required.

“Tesi is second-to-none in terms of his commitment to preparation and rehab, and we will provide him all the support he needs as he works his way back to full fitness.”

The former Tongan Test star suffered the injury in the 34th minute as he attempted to score sprinting for a Kotoni Staggs kick into Penrith’s in-goal.

The extended absence of Niu opens the door for rookie winger Selwyn Cobbo to cement the No.1 jumper — starting against the Bulldogs this Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.

Selwyn Cobbo will get first crack at playing fullback for the Broncos. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Broncos coach Kevin Walters is confident the 19-year-old can handle the demands of fullback play.

“Selwyn will be up for it, I have confidence in him and what he brings to the side,” Walters said.

“Penrith pressured him with the high ball but he came up trumps.

“Nathan Cleary had all sorts of high kicks, but Selwyn and our back three did well to cope with those kicks.

“Selwyn backs himself and he has some wonderful traits. He is a very instinctive player, the ball seems to find him so he will be good at the back for us.”

NRL PHYSIO’S WEEKEND LOWDOWN

A pair of hamstring strains to players with past hamstring injury history headline the Round 6 casualty ward.

Broncos fullback Tesi Niu and Bulldogs centre Braidon Burns are both facing multiple weeks on the sideline after suspected moderate grade hamstring injuries.

Niu’s past hamstring issues are recent, missing five weeks earlier this year after suffering a grade 2 hamstring injury in the pre-season. In some good news this hamstring injury is to the other leg, but the high risk of hamstring strain recurrence exists across both sides moving forward.

The Broncos will be cautious with his return, which is expected to be around 4-6 weeks.

Braidon Burns has injured his hamstring. Picture: Getty Images

Burns has had 2 hamstring injury free years but his previous issues were extensive, costing him several weeks in 2019 with multiple recurrences. The early suspicion from the Bulldogs on this injury is a partial tear, which would see him miss at least 4-6 weeks.

Braden Hamlin-Uele is in danger of an extended stint on the sideline after leaving the Sharks Round 6 game clutching his left arm. Post match the Sharks indicated the initial fears are for a possible pec injury, with the front rower already considered unavailable for next week. Likely best case here is a partial tear with a month long rehab, and if the pec tendon is ruptured surgery and 3 months recovery will be required.

Josh Aloiai returned to the game last night after suffering a shoulder injury in the first half, but still could be facing time on the sidelines. He has a suspected AC joint injury which he described as “popping out” on him. This usually suggests at least a partial tear of the ligaments.

Whilst this is an injury that is often played through with the aid of pain killing injections and padding, there is usually an associated risk of in game aggravation and downturn in performance. The usual return range is 2-6 weeks.

Both Raiders fullback options finished their Round 6 loss to the Cowboys battered and bruised, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (leg) and Xavier Savage (shoulder) struggling with injuries throughout the game. Both appeared minor at the time but there is some added concern for Savage with his injury being to the same shoulder he required AC reconstruction surgery on at the end of last season.

Matt Lodge was ruled out late in the week for the Warriors, diagnosed with a minor side strain. A significant issue in throwing athletes, thankfully in NRL players these don’t tend to require an extended recovery. At this stage he would be expected to return in the next week or two.

There is concern over Xavier Savage’s sore shoulder. Picture: Getty Images

While the Eels left wing injury curse continued last week with Waqa Blake suffering a significant MCL injury, there are reinforcements coming. Sean Russell is nearing the end of his rehab from a brutal rib fracture and punctured lung suffered in Round 1, and should be available for selection in Round 8 or 9.

A real round of concussions and head knocks with several players needing to come from the field. Dale Finucane, Sean Keppie, Chris Patolo, Tolutau Koula and Lachlan Croker all required HIA’s.

Whilst all concussions are individual and treated on a case-by-case basis, it will be difficult for Finucane to play in Round 7 with just a 5 day turnaround for the Sharks. The 6 step NRL concussion protocol guides players to an earliest return of day 6 post concussion, and considering Finucane’s recent concussion history the Sharks are likely to play it safe.

The other immediate concern here is Patolo, who has reportedly had 4 significant head knocks in 6 months. While he appears to be recovering well from this concussion so many concussive blows in a short time period is cause for extra and more thorough assessment, which the Bulldogs will no doubt be undertaking in the coming weeks.