NRL casualty ward round 1: Sione Katoa’s lengthy lay-off with a broken jaw could force Cronulla reshuffle
CRONULLA have copped a serious blow with rookie winger Sione Katoa poised for a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
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A BROKEN jaw to rookie winger Sione Katoa could force Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan into an early season makeover of his backline, including shifting Valentine Holmes from fullback.
Described by Flanagan as a “future superstar”, Katoa was unable to return to Sydney with the rest of the Cronulla squad after undergoing surgery in Townsville.
On debut in the Sharks error-riddled 20-14 loss to North Queensland on Friday night, Katoa’s NRL dream was crushed by the reality he now faces up to eight weeks on the sideline.
Remarkably, the resilient 20-year old attempted to convince the Sharks medical staff to return to the field as he was being assessed inside the dressing room.
Replacing Katoa isn’t the only issue for Flanagan with 307-game forward Luke Lewis facing between two to six weeks out with a foot injury suffered 24-hours before kick-off against the Cowboys.
Lewis will have scans on Sunday to determine the full extent of the damage.
Ahead of the Sharks huge local derby clash with St George-Illawarra at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Thursday night, Flanagan has declared he will “assess every option available” when it comes to replacing Katoa and Lewis.
“I’m really disappointed for Sione and Luke, but if there’s one thing I know about both of the boys is that they’ll do everything possible to be fit and ready to return once their injuries heal,’’ Flanagan said.
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“We’ll all work hard to cover Lewy (Lewis) and as far as Sione is concerned, I’m extremely fortunate to have depth in our outside backs so we’ll take our time to assess every option available to us.’’
Given Holmes’ status as one of the world’s best wingers, the Test star would prove an easy solution on the right wing for Flanagan.
Holmes also produced a night to forget in the No. 1 jumper against the Cowboys.
Coming up with a number of crucial errors under the high ball and missing three tackles, Holmes’ performance left League Immortal and Nine commentator Andrew Johns convinced that for the Sharks to succeed in 2018, Josh Dugan should be moved from centre to fullback and Holmes to the wing.
Flanagan also has the option of covering Katoa and potentially Dugan, should he be moved to fullback, by former Rabbitohs outside back Aaron Gray, promising centre Jesse Ramien or Edrick Lee.
Whichever way Flanagan chooses, the Sharks will need to rapidly improve their discipline with and without the football.
Cronulla virtually gave themselves no chance of beating the Cowboys with a dire completion rate of just 61 per cent while they also came up with 24 missed tackles, 14 errors and 10 penalties conceded.
NRL CASUALTY WARD ROUND 1
* Tigers recruit Josh Reynolds (hamstring, pre-game) is set to miss a month after going down in captain’s run.
* Broncos young gun Jaydn Su’a (shoulder charge) is facing a two week suspension, which can be reduced to one week with an early guilty plea.
* Cowboys five-eighth Michael Morgan (abdominal strain, pre-game) should be back next week.
* Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary (headaches, pre-game) is hopeful of returning next week.
* Joe Tapine suffered a suspected broken finger for the Raiders.
* Cronulla veteran Luke Lewis (foot, pre-game) is facing 2-6 weeks depending on scans.
* Rookie Cronulla winger Sione Katoa (broken jaw) is facing eight weeks.
FULL NRL CASUALTY WARD
BRONCOS
Jack Bird (Shoulder, Round 4)
Andre Savelio (ACL, season)
Jaydn Su’a (Facing suspension, TBC)
BULLDOGS
Josh Cleeland (Ankle, Indefinite)
COWBOYS
Lachlan Coote (Hamstring, Round 2)
Kane Linnett (Pectoral, Indefinite)
Shaun Fensom (Broken leg, Early rounds)
Michael Morgan (Abdominal. Round 2)
DRAGONS
No injuries.
EELS
Clint Gutherson (Knee, Round 8)
Siosaia Vave (Calf, Round 2)
Jaeman Salmon (Neck, Round 3)
Greg Leleisiuao (Knee, Round 3)
Tony Williams (Suspension, Round 3)
Marata Niukore (Suspension, Round 2)
Peni Terepo (Hamstring, Round 3)
George Jennings (Elbow, Round 2)
KNIGHTS
Dylan Phythian (ACL, round 5)
PANTHERS
Tyrone May (ACL, Round 5)
Tyrone Phillips (Pectoral, Round 10)
RABBITOHS
Campbell Graham (Hand, TBC)
RAIDERS
Josh Hodgson (ACL, Round 20)
Joe Tapine (Suspected broken finger, TBC)
ROOSTERS
Luke Keary (Headaches, Round 2)
Bernard Lewis (ACL, Season)
SEA EAGLES
Dylan Walker (Leg, Round 5)
Darcy Lussick (Ankle, Round 3-5)
SHARKS
Sione Katoa (Broken jaw, Round 9)
Luke Lewis (Foot, TBC)
Braden Uele (Ribs, Round 4)
Kyle Flanagan (Broken hand, Round 3)
STORM
Billy Slater (Shoulder, Rould 2)
Jahrome Hughes (Shoulder, Indefinite)
Sandor Earl (ACL, Season)
TITANS
Brendan Elliot (Ankle, Indefinite)
Jack Stockwell (Shoulder, TBC)
Jarrod Wallace (Suspension, Round 3)
WARRIORS
Gerard Beale (Broken leg, Indefinite)
Agnatius Paasi (Knee, Indefinite)
Nathaniel Roache (Foot, Indefinite)
Simon Mannering (Round 3-5)
TIGERS
Jacob Liddle (Shoulder, Round 3-4)
Josh Reynolds (Hamstring, Round 5)