NRL: Cameron Murray facing five months on sideline with wrist injury in massive blow for Kangaroos and Rabbitohs
In an enormous blow for the Kangaroos and the Rabbitohs’ bid to return to finals in 2025, Cameron Murray is facing a whopping five months on the sidelines with after sustaining a major injury.
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In a crippling blow to incoming coach Wayne Bennett, South Sydney skipper Cam Murray could be sidelined through injury for a whopping five months.
Murray damaged his wrist while in camp with the Kangaroos and is expected to visit a surgeon next week to determine the full extent of the injury.
Souths are bracing for a long-term absence which may mean Murray doesn’t return until mid-March, meaning he would miss the entire off-season, pre-season and opening two to three games of 2025.
SEE THE FULL PREDICTED ROUND TEAMS.
Murray and his Australian teammates have been given a break ahead of the November 10 Pacific Championships final at Parramatta.
The Rabbitohs star will return to Australia on Sunday and then see a specialist early next week.
Murray’s injury is an early whack for Bennett, who wanted to return to Souths ready to shake-up the club with a gruelling off-season.
Bennett’s first major assignment may not be finding a new skipper with veteran Cody Walker the early favourite.
Souths officials are desperately hoping their initial fears are wrong and scans reveal Murray’s injury isn’t as severe as first thought.
It is unknown whether Murray sustained the injury at training or during Australia’s win over New Zealand in Christchurch last Sunday.
Murray’s injury drama comes as England Rugby League confirmed a Kangaroo tour to Britain is being proposed for next year.
An English Rugby League Commercial statement read: “Rugby League Commercial can confirm initial conversations have been held with the ARLC about the possibility of a historic Ashes Series being played in England in 2025.
“We are excited by the possibility of bringing the Kangaroos to these shores for a three-match series for the first time in over 20 years, and we are starting work on the feasibility of such a tour.
“We believe this would be welcomed by our England team, by British Rugby League supporters, by the British sporting public, and by the current generation of Australia players, who would relish the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of so many great players of the past.”
England would then travel to Australia and Papua New Guinea the following year for rugby league’s World Cup. Tonga toured England last year with Samoa currently in Britain.
An Ashes series in Britain involving the star-studded Australians would be a financial boon for English rugby league.
Next year’s planned tour would see Australia play England, not Great Britain.
Touring England would preclude Australia from participating in next year’s Pacific Championships.
The Kangaroos will play the winner of this weekend’s New Zealand v Tonga Test in the Pacific Championships final.
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Originally published as NRL: Cameron Murray facing five months on sideline with wrist injury in massive blow for Kangaroos and Rabbitohs
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