NRL casualty ward round 12: 7 players carrying injuries into State of Origin opener

THE physios will be busy in the build-up to State of Origin with a total of seven players managing injuries heading into game one.

Ben Hunt of the Dragons.

A TOTAL of seven State of Origin players are managing injuries heading into game one.

The physio team will be busy in Queensland camp with Ben Hunt (corked thigh), Jai Arrow (shoulder/back/ribs) and Michael Morgan (groin) needing to be nursed through the build-up, while Billy Slater (hamstring) and Josh McGuire (ankle) were pre-game withdrawals for their clubs over the weekend.

For NSW, Jack De Belin (hip) aggravated an existing injury in the loss to the Panthers and will play with a painkilling injection in Origin, while James Roberts (achilles) is confident of playing despite being forced from the field on the weekend.

Ben Hunt tries to warm up his quad. Picture: Phil Hillyard

ROUND 12 CASUALTY WARD

* QUEENSLAND’S Ben Hunt is confident he will play the Origin opener. Hunt appeared hampered for most of the contest against the Panthers on Saturday before hobbling off with a bad cork in the 46th minute. “It’s not too bad, it’s got a pretty bad cork in there. I tried to free it up a bit at halftime but I just couldn’t get it going,” Hunt said post-game. “If I am picked (for Queensland) I think I’ll be pretty right (to play). It’s 10 or so days from now and it’s only a cork so hopefully I get it right.”

Ben Hunt has a quad injury.

* DRAGONS forwards Tariq Sims and Jack de Belin also picked up injuries. De Belin retired from the match in the 70th minute after aggravating a hip flexor injury that has required a painkilling injection for the past three weeks. “Hunt got a bump in the leg and Tariq got a bump in the leg. They were affected but won’t be in any doubt for Origin selection or when we play next,” coach Paul McGregor said. “Jack de Belin reinjured an injury that he’s already got but I’d say he’d be OK too.”

* JAMES Roberts has been cleared of a serious achilles injury and named for the Blues. “I’m ready to go for game one,” Roberts said. “It (his achilles) is slowly getting worse. I have been struggling with it all pre-season, it’s mainly my left achilles, so I need to do a lot of rehab and hopefully it gets better by next week.”

James Roberts is managing an achilles issue.

* BILLY Slater (hamstring) was a pre-game withdrawal for the Storm but will be right for Origin.

* JOSH McGuire (ankle) was a pre-game withdrawal for the Broncos but should be fit for Origin.

* GOLD Coast’s Jai Arrow, who has battled rib and back injuries, hurt his shoulder during the loss to the Roosters, but coach Garth Brennan is adamant the tough-as-nails lock will be fit for Origin. “It’s ongoing bumps and bruises for Jai, he’s a warrior,” he said. “He didn’t want to come off but sometimes you have to drag him off. He’s fine, he will be OK.”

* COWBOYS playmaker Michael Morgan aggravated a groin injury against Melbourne but it won’t hamper his Origin aspirations. “I’ve had the injury all year and if I get the chance to play I’ll be OK,” he said.

* MATT Scott (shoulder charge) is facing a one-game game suspension. He has pleaded not guilty and will front the judiciary on Tuesday in hope of playing for the Cowboys against Manly after being overlooked for Origin.

Jai Arrow is waging a constant battle with injury. Picture: Zak Simmonds

* ANDREW Fifita (knee) missed Cronulla’s clash against Newcastle due to bone bruising. “He hasn’t been training all week. He turned up for the captain’s run for a 10 to 15-minute run and played last weekend,” Luke Lewis told ABC radio on Saturday. “This week it has probably caught up with him a bit too much. It’s probably a perfect time to give him a bit of a break for him to regroup for next week and hopefully he’s right for Friday night (against South Sydney).”

* GOLD Coast are confident star second-rower Kevin Proctor (groin) won’t spend any more time on the sideline after he aggravated an injury against Sydney Roosters. Proctor limped from the field in the first half of the 34-14 loss and did not return as the Titans opted to take a cautious approach with the Kiwi representative. The injury was a repeat of the one suffered in a Cameron Smith tackle against Melbourne a fortnight ago, but the Titans have the bye next week and coach Brennan is not concerned about his long-term fitness. “He was probably close to going back on again but I’m not going to risk a player if he’s not right,” Brennan said. “It’s hard enough playing with 12 men but you can’t play with a player out there that’s not 100 per cent fit and healthy.”

Kevin Proctor is fighting a groin issue.

* RYAN Matterson (concussion) was a pre-game withdrawal for the Roosters. He is expected to be available next week.

* COWBOYS prop Scott Bolton (rib cartilage) made it through just 28 minutes in the grand final replay.

* JACK Stockwell (shoulder) and Phillip Sami (calf) were pre-game withdrawals for the Titans.

* ZAC Lomax (hand) was cut from the Dragons’ extended squad during the week to have surgery. He will miss eight weeks.

* ROGER Tuivasa-Sheck (ankle) failed to finish for the Warriors but the injury is minor and he is expected back after the bye.

* MASON Lino (leg strain) was a pre-game withdrawal for the Warriors and is also expected to be fit after the bye.

* RAYMOND Faitala-Mariner (concussion) failed to return for the Bulldogs.

* NATHAN Ross (hamstring) failed to finish for the Knights.

* MELBOURNE’S Sam Kasiano and Penrith’s Jack Hetherington have taken early guilty pleas to dangerous contact charges. Both will miss one game.

* NEWCASTLE prop Herman Ese’ese (dangerous contact) faces a week on the sideline regardless of plea for a hit on Chad Townsend.

* CRONULLA’S Luke Lewis (dangerous contact) can escape a ban with an early guilty plea for a hit on Kalyn Ponga, but will miss a week if he fights the charge and loses.

* WADE Graham (dangerous contact) is facing a one-game ban and will need to fight the charge and win to be available for the Sharks this weekend.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has an ankle issue.

FULL NRL CASUALTY WARD

BRONCOS

James Roberts (Achilles, Origin 1)

Josh McGuire (Ankle, Origin 1)

Andre Savelio (ACL, season)

Matt Gillett (Broken neck, Round 16-18)

Alex Glenn (Knee, Round 14-15)

Payne Haas (Shoulder, Season)

Jack Bird (Sternum, Round 14)

Korbin Sims (Broken jaw, 16-18)

BULLDOGS

Aiden Tolman (Ankle, Round 13-15)

Danny Fualalo (Ankle, round 16-19)

Josh Morris (Knee, Round 20)

Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Concussion, Round 14)

COWBOYS

Scott Bolton (Rib cartilage, TBC)

Michael Morgan (Groin, Origin 1)

Kane Linnett (Pectoral, Round 13)

Jordan McLean (Foot, Round 16)

Josh Chudleigh (Knee, Season)

John Asiata (Pectoral, Round 18)

Matt Scott (Facing suspension, TBC)

DRAGONS

Zac Lomax (Hand, Round 20)

Ben Hunt (Corked thigh, Origin 1)

Jack De Belin (Hip, Origin 1)

Tariq Sims (Cork, Next game)

EELS

Tim Mannah (Eye, Round 14)

Kaysa Pritchard (Groin, Round 14)

Jarryd Hayne (Hip flexor, Round 13)

Nathan Brown (Ankle, Round 13)

Greg Leleisiuao (Thumb, Round 15)

Tony Williams (ACL, Season)

Beau Scott (ACL, Season)

KNIGHTS

Mitchell Pearce (Pectoral, Round 19-23)

Tautau Moga (ACL, Season)

Daniel Saifiti (Shoulder, Round 24)

Brock Lamb (Cheekbone, Round 16)

Nathan Ross (Hamstring, TBC)

Herman Ese’ese (Facing suspension, TBC)

PANTHERS

Sam McKendry (ACL, Season)

Tim Browne (Ruptured bowel, Retired)

Waqa Blake (Ankle, Round 14)

Josh Mansour (Fractured cheekbone, Round 19)

Dylan Edwards (Shoulder, Season)

Moses Leota (Pectoral, Round 17)

Peter Wallace (Shoulder, Round 14)

Jack Hetherington (Suspension, Round 15)

RABBITOHS

Richie Kennar (Foot, Round 13)

Alex Johnston (Hamstring, Round 13)

RAIDERS

Junior Paulo (Foot, Round 18)

Josh Hodgson (ACL, Round 16-20)

Joseph Tapine (Suspension, Round 15)

ROOSTERS

Daniel Tupou (Pectoral, Round 13)

Bernard Lewis (ACL, Season)

Ryan Matterson (Concussion, Round 13)

SEA EAGLES

Curtis Sironen (ACL, Season)

Kelepi Tanginoa (ACL, Season)

Brad Parker (Knee, Round 13)

Lachlan Croker (ACL, Season)

Jono Wright (Broken hand, Round 13)

Taniela Paseka, (Ankle, Round 14)

Dylan Walker (Eye socket, Round 18)

Apisai Koroisau (Suspension, Round 13)

SHARKS

Scott Sorensen (Broken hand, Round 16)

Andrew Fifita (Knee, Round 13)

Luke Lewis (Facing suspension, TBC)

Wade Graham (Facing suspension, TBC)

STORM

Sandor Earl (ACL, July)

Curtis Scott (Suspension, Round 15)

Billy Slater (Hamstring, Origin 1)

Sam Kasiano (Suspension, Round 15)

TITANS

Jai Arrow (Shoulder/ribs/back, Origin 1)

Kevin Proctor (Groin, Round 13)

Will Matthews (Concussion, Indefinite)

Jack Stockwell (Shoulder, TBC)

Phillip Sami (Calf, TBC)

WARRIORS

Nathaniel Roache (Back, Season)

Leivaha Pulu (Ankle, Round 20)

Shaun Johnson (Ankle, Round 14)

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Ankle, Round 14)

Mason Lino (Leg strain, Round 14)

WESTS TIGERS

No injuries

Originally published as NRL casualty ward round 12: 7 players carrying injuries into State of Origin opener