NRL casualty ward round 8: Clubs reel from monster weekend of injuries

NRL clubs are reeling from the worst casualty ward of the year with 21 players going down over the weekend.

Lachlan Croker is out for the season with an ACL injury.

NRL clubs are reeling from the worst casualty ward of the year with 21 players going down over the weekend.

The Sea Eagles were the hardest hit after a further four players were added to their overflowing casualty ward.

Manly CEO Lyall Gorman says the club has no option but to consider exiled utility Jackson Hastings given the Sea Eagles have just 21 fit players — the bare minimum for naming a squad.

Manly’s 21-year-old playmaker Lachlan Croker (knee) suffered the third ACL rupture of his young career and won’t play again this season.

Lachlan Croker is out for the season.

Edge forward Jack Gosiewski (broken hand) will miss 4-6 weeks. Matthew Wright (concussion) failed his HIA test and didn’t return, while Jono Wright (hand) has been sent for scans after going down in reserve grade.

Hastings himself dislocated his finger playing for Blacktown Workers, but popped it back into place and played out the game.

The injuries add to an already dire casualty ward at Manly that also includes Jorge Taufua (collarbone, round 12), Curtis Sironen (ACL, season), Kelepi Tanginoa (ACL, season) and Brad Parker (knee, round 12).

Jackson Hastings directs traffic for Blacktown Workers on Saturday. Picture: Christian Gilles

In other injury news from round 8:

• THE Panthers face a huge test of depth following a serious injury to fullback Dylan Edwards (dislocated shoulder). Phil Gould says Edwards will skip surgery for now, with the young fullback to rehab for six weeks and play out the season. He will then go for surgery, which requires a six-month recovery.

The Panthers are already without Nathan Cleary (knee, round 13), Waqa Blake (ankle, round 14) and Josh Mansour (facial fractures, round 19).

However, Tyrone May (ACL) and Peter Wallace (neck) are expected to be available this week. May sees his surgeon on Monday in the hope of receiving final clearance to play after rupturing his ACL in last year’s finals series.

The Panthers hope Dylan Edwards will miss just six weeks.

• THE Storm were also hard hit with Tim Glasby (broken thumb) now racing the clock for Origin 1 following an injury in Melbourne’s Anzac Day thrashing of the Warriors.

“Unfortunately Tim has suffered a broken thumb and has undergone surgery – we are expecting him to miss four to six weeks of football,” Storm football director Frank Ponissi said.

Melbourne also lost NSW Origin hopeful Curtis Scott (ankle).

“Scans suggest Curtis has suffered a high ankle sprain and he will miss the next few weeks,” Ponissi said.

“However until his swelling settles we are unable to specify a timeline exactly. We will have a better understanding in the coming days.”

Suliasi Vunivalu (hamstring) was a pre-game withdrawal with a low grade injury but is expected to play Melbourne’s next match, aided by an 11-day turnaround. Dale Finucane (broken thumb) is also expected back.

Curtis Scott has an ankle issue.

• JOSH Dugan (foot) limped off in the final moments of Cronulla’s last-ditch win over the Titans and will go for scans. “He should be right, we need him to be right,” said Sharks captain Paul Gallen on Channel Nine.

Scott Sorensen (concussion) didn’t have time to return after a late knock, while Wade Graham (hamstring) was a pre-game withdrawal, but should be fit for next week. Gallen (knee) says he is at least two weeks away.

• ISSAC Luke (knee) suffered a cartilage issue for the Warriors. Reports suggest he could miss up to six weeks, but coach Stephen Kearney was more optimistic after the match.

“He’s obviously hurt his knee but in terms of what that looks like in time, we’ll wait until we get a scan back and see,” said Kearney. “But there’s a chance that he’ll miss a week or so, we just need to see how that all pans out.”

On the plus side, Shaun Johnson (groin), Tohu Harris (concussion) and Solomone Kata (ankle) are all expected to return for the Round 9 clash against Wests Tigers, while Gerard Beale (broken leg) is due back a week later. Meanwhile, second-rower Leivaha Pulu’s foot injury will rule him until round 20.

Issac Luke picked up a knee injury.

• THE Broncos have confirmed Josh McGuire (ankle) tore a ligament during Thursday’s win over the Rabbitohs and is set to miss 4-6 weeks. James Roberts (knee) and Matt Lodge (ribs) are battling ongoing injuries, but both are expected to be named this week.

• The injury to Rabbitohs winger Richie Kennar (ankle/foot) may not be as bad as first thought after inital fears he may be ruled out for the season. Kennar may only miss a fortnight in great news for the club following his strong start to the season.

In some good news it appears Richie Kennar’s scans came back better than expected, and he is only expected to miss 1-2 weeks. A relief for him and @SSFCRABBITOHS after initial reports were a Lisfranc injury & 12+ weeks on the sideline

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) 29 April 2018

• TONY Williams (knee) suffered a suspected ACL injury for the Eels. “I don’t think it’s real good. He needs to have scan, but I’ve been told that it’s ACL,” Eels coach Brad Arthur said.

• AT the Titans, Will Matthews (concussion) failed his HIA test and didn’t return. Jai Arrow (back spasms) experienced a flare-up of an existing injury, but returned. He will be monitored during the week.

• ELIJAH Taylor (concussion) was a pre-game withdrawal for the Tigers.

Jai Arrow has struggled with back spasms over the last fortnight.

THE 21 PLAYERS INJURED IN ROUND 8

1 Josh McGuire (Ankle, TBC)

2 James Roberts (Knee, Round 9)

3 Matt Lodge (Ribs, Round 9)

4 Dylan Edwards (Shoulder, Season)

5 Peter Wallace (Neck, Round 9) - pre-game

6 Richie Kennar (Foot, TBC)

7 Lachlan Croker (ACL, Season)

8 Jack Gosiewski (Hand, Round 12)

9 Matthew Wright (Concussion, Round 9)

10 Jono Wright (Broken hand, TBC)

11 Wade Graham (Hamstring, Round 9) - pre-game

12 Josh Dugan (Foot, TBC)

13 Scott Sorensen (Concussion, Round 9)

14 Tim Glasby (Broken thumb, Round 14-15)

15 Curtis Scott (Ankle, Round 11)

16 Suliasi Vunivalu (Hamstring, Round 9) - pre-game

17 Jai Arrow (Back, Round 9)

18 Will Matthews (Concussion, Round 9)

19 Issac Luke (Knee, TBC)

20 Elijah Taylor (Concussion, Round 9) - pre-game

21 Tony Williams (Knee, TBC)

FULL NRL CASUALTY WARD

BRONCOS

Josh McGuire (Ankle, TBC)

Jordan Kahu (Broken jaw, Round 9-10)

Andre Savelio (ACL, season)

Matt Gillett (Broken neck, Round 14-18)

Andrew McCullough (Elbow, Rounds 12-14)

James Roberts (Knee, Round 9)

Matt Lodge (Ribs, Round 9)

BULLDOGS

Aiden Tolman (Ankle, Round 13)

COWBOYS

Kane Linnett (Pectoral, Round 13)

Jordan McLean (Foot, Round 16)

Josh Chudleigh (Knee, Season)

John Asiata (Pectoral, Round 18)

DRAGONS

Luciano Leilua (Ankle, Round 10)

EELS

Jarryd Hayne (Hip flexor, Round 12)

Nathan Brown (Ankle, Round 9)

Greg Leleisiuao (Thumb, Round 15)

Beau Scott (Ribs, Indefinite)

Kirisome Auva’a (Ribs, Indefinite)

Tony Williams (Knee, TBC)

KNIGHTS

Mitchell Pearce (Pectoral, Round 19-23)

Tautau Moga (ACL, Season)

PANTHERS

Nathan Cleary (Knee, Round 13)

Tyrone May (ACL, Round 9)

Tyrone Phillips (Pectoral, Round 10)

Sam McKendry (ACL, Season)

Tim Browne (Ruptured bowel, Indefinite)

Waqa Blake (Ankle, Round 14)

Josh Mansour (Fractured cheekbone, Round 19)

Dylan Edwards (Shoulder, Season)

Peter Wallace (Neck, Round 9)

RABBITOHS

Richie Kennar (Foot, TBC)

Zane Musgrove (Ankle, Round 13)

Tyrell Fuimaono (Toe, Round 10)

Sam Burgess (Suspension, Round 10)

RAIDERS

Josh Hodgson (ACL, Round 16-20)

Charlie Gubb (Groin, Round 10)

Sam Williams (Knee, Round 10-12)

ROOSTERS

Daniel Tupou (Pectoral, Round 12)

Bernard Lewis (ACL, Season)

SEA EAGLES

Jorge Taufua (Collarbone, Round 12)

Curtis Sironen (ACL, Season)

Kelepi Tanginoa (ACL, Season)

Brad Parker (Knee, Round 12)

Lachlan Croker (ACL, Season)

Jack Gosiewski (Hand, Round 12)

Matthew Wright (Concussion, Round 9)

Jono Wright (Broken hand, TBC)

SHARKS

Wade Graham (Hamstring, Round 9)

Paul Gallen (Knee, Round 11)

Luke Lewis (Calf, Round 12)

Josh Dugan (Foot, TBC)

Scott Sorensen (Concussion, Round 9)

STORM

Tim Glasby (Broken thumb, Round 14-15)

Sandor Earl (ACL, July)

Dale Finucane (Thumb, Round 9)

Jesse Bromwich (Knee, Round 11-13)

Curtis Scott (Ankle, Round 11)

Suliasi Vunivalu (Hamstring, Round 9)

TITANS

Dale Copley (Hamstring, Round 10-11

Nathan Peats (Ribs, Round 11-13)

Jai Arrow (Back, Round 9)

Will Matthews (Concussion, Round 9)

WARRIORS

Gerard Beale (Broken leg, Round 10)

Nathaniel Roache (Back, Season)

Leivaha Pulu (Ankle, Round 20)

Solomone Kata (Ankle, Round 8)

Tohu Harris (Concussion, Round 8)

Shaun Johnson (Groin, Round 8)

Issac Luke (Knee, TBC)

Blake Ayshford (Back, TBC)

TIGERS

Russell Packer (Knee, Round 10)

Elijah Taylor (Concussion, Round 9)

Josh Reynolds (Shoulder, Round 11-13)

Alex Twal (Shoulder, Round 9)