NRL Casualty Ward: James Segeyaro sidelined for two months as clubs count huge injury cost after brutal opening round

JAMES Segeyaro faces two months out while the news could be even worse for several big NRL names after a brutal opening weekend to the 2016 season.

Blake Austin leaves the field with a knee injury.

NRL clubs have been left to count a huge cost after a brutal opening weekend to the 2016 season, with several of the game’s biggest and brightest names now facing long stints on the sidelines.

And as a direct result of the new interchange reduction, Ricky Stuart says NRL clubs better get used to the reality that injuries and concussion will decide the outcome of games this year.

In one of several round-one knockouts, Stuart could lose his star halves pairing of Blake Austin (knee) and Aidan Sezer (eye) to potential long-term injuries.

Elsewhere in a horror opening round for injuries:

* The Rabbitohs were hit hardest with halfback Adam Reynolds (jaw) and backrower John Sutton (pec) both facing long stints on the sidelines;

* Panthers hooker James Segeyaro broke his arm and faces two months out;

* Bulldogs hooker Michael Lichaa injured his knee, with reports suggesting he could be sidelined for three months;

* Cronulla face a nervous wait as the severity of captain Paul Gallen’s knee injury is assessed;

* Luckless Warriors back-rower Ben Henry suffered a likely season-ending dislocated kneecap;

* Broncos flyer Jordan Kahu could miss a month with a thigh injury

* Eels five-eighth Corey Norman was forced off the field during his side’s loss to Brisbane with a neck injury.

Blake Austin leaves the field with a knee injury.

“I think they will both miss some time, Austo a little bit more,” Stuart said of Austin and Sezer.

“I don’t like to say (how long) until I know exactly what the scans show”.

Stuart said he was hoping Sezer’s injury was localised to his eye socket, which would mean he could be back in a couple of weeks.

Although Sezer completed the full game on Saturday, Austin only played 46 minutes. Stuart believes reducing the interchange from 10 to eight this year will prove decisive in games.

“I’m not saying it is a bad thing because I like it,” Stuart said.

“But there is going to be games won and lost because of injury and concussions.

“It is a tough gig (deciding when to make changes during a game when players are forced off injured).”

James Segeyaro broke his arm in Penrith’s loss to Canberra.

Penrith coach Anthony Griffin agreed, with Segeyaro going off in the early stages of the second half when the Panthers came back to lead 22-16.

“Particularly if you lose a key player like him,” Griffin said.

“I thought it was okay (the interchange changes) but certainly injuries make you have to juggle it a bit more.”

Griffin said Segeyaro would find out on Monday exactly how long he would be sidelined.

“It is terrible for him,” Griffin said.

“He was playing his 100th game and he was going well but that happens.

“We are pretty certain he has some kind of break or displacement. They are just hoping it is a spiral fracture which is six to eight weeks.”

Sharks skipper Paul Gallen is awaiting news on his knee injury. Picture: Wesley Monts

Cronulla received good news on Gallen’s injury, but the Sharks skipper still faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines.

Lichaa will also see a specialist on Monday but the fear is the young hooker could be sidelined from anywhere between one and three months.

Former Dragon Craig Garvey is Lichaa’s most likely replacement for Thursday night’s clash with Penrith.

Garvey played seven games for the Dragons off the bench last year but with limited minutes, 35 being the most in one game.

Michael Lichaa could miss up to three months with a knee injury. Picture: Mark Evans

Parramatta received good news on Corey Norman who was cleared of serious injury and should be back for the game in North Queensland on Saturday night with Kieran Foran also expected to make his NRL debut for the Eels.

The injury to Henry was a shattering blow after he came off in the game against the Wests Tigers.

Andrew McFadden said the diagnosis for the backrower “doesn’t look good”.

The 24-year-old also suffered season-ending injuries in 2013 and 2015 and has endured two previous knee reconstructions.

Warriors forward Ben Henry’s injury prognosis doesn’t look good.

Young Bronco Kahu could also be facing up to a month out after suffering a thigh injury.

Griffin would not speculate on his options for Segeyaro.

The Panthers lost Api Koroisau to Manly this year, while Sione Katoa suffered a medial strain in the Auckland Nines and remains sidelined.

Parramatta recruit Zach Docker-Clay played for Penrith in NSW Cup on the weekend but is still only 20 years of age, while Tyrone Peachey could also make a switch to dummy half, perhaps opening the door for young sensation Te Maire Martin on the bench.

Originally published as NRL Casualty Ward: James Segeyaro sidelined for two months as clubs count huge injury cost after brutal opening round