NRL news: Over $20 million worth of talent sidelined after brutal start to 2024 season

The cost of rugby league’s brutality has never been steeper, with the first three weeks of the NRL season claiming almost all of the NRL’s biggest earners. See the full list.

NRL's sidelined stars: $20m worth of talent unavailable in Round 4

The cost of rugby league’s brutality has never been steeper.

A staggering spate of injuries has hit the NRL across the first three rounds, grounding more than $20 million worth of talent for round 4.

And the hits keep coming.

Some of the games biggest stars and highest earners are on the sidelines for varying periods of time, with Nathan Cleary (hamstring), Mitch Moses (foot), Payne Haas (knee), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (ACL), Reece Walsh (facial fracture) all sidelined.

They top an astronomical list of injuries which on Tuesday reached more than 40 players from the first three rounds.

More than $20m worth of NRL talent is unavailable in Round 4, including star playmakers Mitchell Moses, Reece Walsh and Nathan Cleary.

On Tuesday grand finalists Brisbane took another hit to an already fragile starting side when second-rower Brendan Piakura hobbled off the training paddock with an ankle injury, which has ruled him out of Friday night’s clash with the Cowboys.

He’s the latest Broncos star to be sidelined alongside Haas and Walsh who will miss up to the next month, and the squad has been hit so badly winger Corey Oates has been named on the interchange for his first game of the year.

Halfback Adam Reynolds has also been named to return from a knee injury but will be given until Thursday to prove his fitness.

Next week gets even tougher for the Broncos.

They’re set to face the Storm in Melbourne to cap off a rough start to the season, with Cameron Munster a chance to return from a groin injury that’s sidelined him through the first month of footy.

“It’s very unusual,” says Fox Sports analyst and commentator Greg Alexander.

“Who can predict what’s going to happen from here? You’ve got to keep your best players on the field to win comps.

“Some clubs have been able to do it, Penrith have had their challenges over the three years they’ve won premierships, by the time they’ve got to the back end of the season everyone has been available, but sometimes busted. In 2021 they were just hanging in there with the help of pain killing needles.

“But it’s very unusual to have so many big names sitting on the sidelines.”

The Sharks injury crisis has taken a turn, with almost their almost their entire pack wiped out. Picture: Getty Images

After a miserable loss to the Wests Tigers last week, Cronulla have had almost their entire pack wiped out with Dale Finucane (fractured eye socket), Royce Hunt (calf) and Toby Rudolf (ankle) all ruled out, joining Braden Hamlin-Uele (knee) and Briton Nikora (suspension) on the sidelines.

It comes at an awful time for the Sharks as they face a red hot Canberra side at Shark Park on Sunday afternoon.

Parramatta halfback Moses has been replaced by rookie Blaize Talagi in the halves for the Easter Monday clash with the Tigers, with five-eighth Dylan Brown to wear the No.7 jersey. Bryce Cartwright has been named despite carrying a rib injury.

At Penrith, new recruit Brad Schneider has been named to take Cleary’s place in the halves, while Scott Sorensen (knee) and James Fisher-Harris (shoulder) will also be missing from Thursday night’s clash with the Roosters.The Titans have been helped with a double dose of good news after losing captain and highest earner Tino Fa’asuamaleaui for the season with an ACL injury.

Titans skipper Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is out for the season after suffering an ACL injury. Picture: Getty Images

Million-dollar forward David Fifita has been included on an extended bench for Saturday’s clash with the Dolphins and is nearing his return to the field within the next fortnight, while fullback Jayden Campbell has been named to play.

Winless South Sydney have named star duo Cameron Murray and Jack Wighton to face the Bulldogs on Good Friday, despite both dealing with knee injuries out of a bruising loss to the Roosters last week.

Canterbury flyer Josh Addo-Carr has also been named on an extended bench and is a chance to return from a shoulder injury.

Originally published as NRL news: Over $20 million worth of talent sidelined after brutal start to 2024 season