Injury to insult: Roosters to be without several stars for Panthers clash as they count the cost of brutal round one loss

History says the Roosters can’t win the comp after conceding 50 points, and things won’t get better any time soon with Trent Robinson revealing the extent of their horror injury toll.

The Roosters’ depth is set to be tested over the coming weeks with coach Trent Robinson revealing Nat Butcher has spent time in hospital and won’t be available for their next game, while Victor Radley’s immediate playing future is also up in the air after he suffered another concussion on Thursday night.

The injuries compound what was an already ugly night for the Tricolours who were thumped 50-14 by a red-hot Broncos side, although Robinson isn’t as concerned as others are right now.

His main worry is the health of one of his most important players, with Radley failing his sixth HIA in the past four seasons.

Victor Radley was concussed following a heavy collision with James Tedesco on Thursday night. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The club has always been conservative with head knocks so they won’t rush him back despite the heavy loss and the fact that they are without so many experienced guys in 2025 after a number of their biggest stars either switched codes, retired or moved to other clubs.

Radley will be monitored over the next few days after he collided heavily with skipper James Tedesco early in the first half.

“He’s concussed. He’s okay in the sheds but you don’t want those things to happen,” Robinson said.

“He’s pretty key to our team and the way that we run things. To lose him quite early was tough.”

Radley stayed down for a few minutes but was able to walk from the field with the help of a couple of trainers.

“I think I got him right in the head so that’s probably on me,” Tedesco said.

“I was really happy with how we started. There was a lot of energy, our defence was on and ‘Rads’ was steering the ship really well.

“When he went down, we had a lot of inexperience on the bench. I thought the boys went hard, but as Robbo said, we probably got outplayed and outsmarted.”

Nat Butcher won’t return next week with his coach confirming he’s spent time in hospital. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

The Roosters are without the suspended Spencer Leniu for next week’s showdown with the Panthers, and they won’t be getting Butcher back for the clash with Robinson revealing the back-rower will be out for a while.

“He had an operation,” Robinson said, with reports man mountain De La Salle Va’a has also spent time in hospital this week.

“We’ve had a couple of guys in hospital in the past couple of days in the forward pack which has been really tough. They’re outside of footy issues.

“We’ll be missing those guys for a couple of weeks, but they’re both on the mend.”

Radley’s injury added to the Roosters’ woes after they conceded 50 points which historically means they can no longer win the comp.

Robinson liked their effort and physicality but said “the smarts were really low” as his inexperienced edges were torn to shreds by Brisbane’s speedsters who had room to move thanks to Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan.

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Robinson has heard all the criticism leading into the season but can see positives going forward, with rookie centre Robert Toia starring with a couple of try assists.

“It’s hard to explain how excited you are about developing a team and watching these guys make three debuts,” the three-time premiership-winning coach said.

“It’s really disappointing, but it’s not a matter of happy or sad. We’ve got to work hard, and that’s what coaching is. You’ve got to go step by step, and I saw some things that I liked.

“We’ll keep getting better as long as we keep our attitude where it needs to be and we keep improving our smarts and we keep belief in our team.”

Originally published as Injury to insult: Roosters to be without several stars for Panthers clash as they count the cost of brutal round one loss