John Sutton, Adam Reynolds, Blake Austin lead NRL injury list after brutal first round
SCANS have revealed Adam Reynolds could miss up to 12 weeks, following news John Sutton will miss 16 weeks. Get all the latest injury news from Round 1.
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ONE hundred and eighteen weeks - that’s the incredible possible injury toll from just the first seven games of the NRL season.
The NRL promised a faster game in 2016, due to alterations to the interchange rule and the introduction of the video referee bunker and the shot clock.
But after just one round it is apparent that rugby league is also even more physical this season.
Players are set to miss a combined total of around two years worth of matches as the NRL’s casualty ward begins to bulge.
Ben Henry, John Sutton, Adam Reynolds, Michael Lichaa, James Segeyaro, Paul Gallen, Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer are already facing extensive lay-offs after the opening round.
And things could get worse, with the final match of round one between Melbourne and St George Illawarra still to be played at AAMI Park on Monday night.
South Sydney put in probably the most impressive performance in round one, thumping archrivals Sydney Roosters 42-10.
But the confidence-boosting victory has come at a significant cost with Sutton ruled out for 16 weeks due to a pectoral muscle injury.
The Rabbitohs also confirmed on Monday that scans revealed Reynolds suffered a fractured jaw against the Roosters. On Tuesday the club revealed that he could miss between six and 12 weeks, a lay-off which could throw the Rabbitohs season into disarray.
The biggest loser from the opening round so far is Warriors forward Ben Henry, who is expected to miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury suffered in the loss to Wests Tigers.
The Warriors haven’t confirmed the full extent of the injury, but playmaker Shaun Johnson is expecting the worst.
“We’re gutted for Benny,” Johnson said.
The Broncos’ backline depth will be stretched to its absolute limit following confirmation Jordan Kahu will miss a month of football with a calf injury.
Kahu, who mad his Test debut last season, will likely be replaced by the returning Jack Reed but if Reed is unable to prove his fitness backrower Alex Glenn may deputise at left centre.
James Segeyaro will miss six to eight weeks with a broken arm and given Penrith’s lack of depth at hooker it is a bitter pill for the Panthers to swallow.
Elijah Taylor or Tyrone Peachey could act as a bandaid solution while Soni Luke or Zach Dockar-Clay could be roughies to start.
Michael Lichaa will also miss significant time after the Bulldogs confirmed he would undergo knee surgery on Monday and could miss up to three months.
New recruit Craig Garvey is in the frame to replace the promising rake.
ROUND 1 INJURY LIST
John Sutton (pec, 16 weeks)
Adam Reynolds (jaw, indefinite)
Paul Gallen (knee, 6-8 weeks)
Blake Austin (knee, 3-4 weeks)
Aidan Sezer (eye, 2-6 weeks)
Michael Lichaa (knee, indefinite)
James Segeyaro (arm, indefinite)
Jordan Kahu (thigh, four weeks)
Ben henry (knee, season)
Corey Norman (neck, cleared)
COMPLETE CASUALTY WARD
BRONCOS
Jordan Kahu (calf, Round 5)
Lachlan Maranta (fractured wrist, round seven)
Jack Reed (shoulder, round one)
Carlin Anderson (stomach, indefinite)
EELS
Kieran Foran (hamstring, TBC)
Corey Norman (neck, TBC)
Anthony Watmough (knee/shoulder, round two or three)
John Folau (hamstring, indefinite)
SEA EAGLES
Jayden Hodges (ACL, season)
Jamie Buhrer (broken jaw, round five)
Isaac John (virus, indefinite)
BULLDOGS
Brett Morris (knee, round 16)
Adam Keighran (shoulder, indefinite).
Michael Lichaa (knee, indefinite)
RAIDERS
Adam Clydesdale (shoulder, round three)
Blake Austin (knee, Round 4-8)
Aidan Sezer (cheekbone, Round 4-8)
PANTHERS
Viliame Kikau (ankle, indefinite)
Sione Katoa (knee, round three)
Brendan Atwood (arm, indefinite)
James Segeyaro (arm, Round 6-10)
TIGERS
Matt Ballin (ACL, round eight)
Justin Hunt (back, indefinite)
Robbie Farah (knee, round five)
WARRIORS
Thomas Leuluai (ACL, round five)
Henare Wells (hamstring, indefinite)
Ligi Sao (dislocated shoulder, indefinite)
Sione Lousi (round four)
Sipley Toafofoa (round four)
Mason Lino (round four)
Ben Henry (knee, season)
COWBOYS
Ray Thompson (broken ankle, round 10)
Tautau Moga (ACL, indefinite)
SHARKS
Mitch Brown (broken ribs, indefinite)
Tracey Connor (ACL, season)
Paul Gallen (knee, Round 8)
ROOSTERS
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (ACL, indefinite)
Mitchell Pearce (disciplinary, round nine)
Boyd Cordner (pectoral, round eight).
RABBITOHS
Tom Burgess (ankle, round five)
Adam Reynolds (jaw, indefinite)
John Sutton (pectoral, indefinite)
TITANS
Kane Elgey (ACL, season)
Karl Lawton (adductor, round four)
Oshae Tuiasau (MCL, round six)
Nene Macdonald (knee, round three)
Nathaniel Peteru (knee, round six)
Kierran Moseley (knee, this weekend)
KNIGHTS
Tariq Sims (suspension, round six)
James McManus (concussion, season)
Jarrod Mullen (disciplinary, this weekend).
STORM
Billy Slater (shoulder, this weekend)
Cheyse Blair (foot, indefinite)
Matt White (calf, indefinite).
DRAGONS
Dylan Farrell (back, indefinite)
Mose Masoe (ACL, season)
Yaw Kiti Glymin (hamstring, indefinite).
Originally published as John Sutton, Adam Reynolds, Blake Austin lead NRL injury list after brutal first round
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