NRL pre-season Casualty Ward: How your club is looking ahead of round one
As NRL clubs return to training a host of talent remain with the rehabilitation group. YOUR CLUB’S CASUALTY WARD HERE
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The Sydney Roosters will get a early-season boost in 2023 when two key players return from long-term knee injuries.
Back-rower Sitili Tupouniua and young centre Billy Smith are recovering from ACL surgery. Both players are “progressing well” according to the Roosters and have their sights set on returning to action in May.
Meanwhile Manly’s pre-season plans have taken a big hit with Tom Trbojevic sidelined for up to eight weeks following another hamstring injury.
Elsewhere the Wests Tigers received a pre-Christmas boost on the injury front with four stars, headlined by young backrower Shawn Blore, on track for the season opener against the Gold Coast.
In Melbourne, Ryan Papenhuyzen has ticked all the recovery boxes in his return from a broken knee cap.
At St George Illawarra, Cody Ramsey’s health diagnoses is set to keep the young fullback out indefinitely.
Here’s the latest injury news from around the grounds.
YOUR CLUB’S PRE-SEASON CASUALTY WARD
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Return to training: November 7
World Cup players return: January 4
Christmas break: Dec 22 – Jan 3
Cody Ramsey
Injury: Ulcerative Colitis
Expected return: Out indefinitely
Ramsey is being provided with all the health and wellbeing support possible and his recovery is ongoing.
Mikaele Ravalawa
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return: Trials
Ravalawa picked up a new hamstring injury but is back into the full training with the squad. He should be ready by the trials.
Jack de Belin
Injury: Shoulder
Expected return: TBA
de Belin had off-season shoulder surgery 13 weeks ago. The forward is progressing through the rehab and is very close to being back in full training.
Tyrell Fuimaono
Injury: Elbow
Expected return: Round 1
Fuimaono had an elbow cleanout in the off-season but is already back doing contact training.
Nick Lui-Toso
Injury: Pectoral
Expected return: Trials
Lui-Toso suffered a pectoral strain that did not require surgery. The injury happened before in the off-season but he is already back into full training.
Ryan Couchman
Injury: Shoulder
Expected return: Round 1
Couchman had off-season shoulder surgery and will be integrated into full training close to full training in the coming weeks.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Return to training: 1 November 2022
World Cup players return: From 28 November 2022
Christmas break: 22 December 2022 to 4 January 2023
Liam Knight
Injury: Ruptured ACL
Expected return: Mid-season
Knight will return to team training in January 2023. He sustained an ACL injury playing in a NSW Cup match mid-season following a cannonball tackle. Knight has been rehabilitating his knee following surgery last season. He will return to team training in January to continue his build up to the season.
BRISBANE BRONCOS
Return to training: November 8
World Cup player return: Mid-January
Christmas break: Dec 22- Jan 5
Payne Haas
Injury: Ankle
Expected return: December
Haas suffered an ankle sprain at training the same day as Reynolds sustained his leg injury. Haas already started his rehab and will return to running this week.
Adam Reynolds
Injury: Leg
Expected return: December
Reynolds picked up a knock to his leg during a contact training session last week but won’t be sidelined long term. He will return to training this week.
Kobe Hetherington
Injury: Bicep
Expected return: March-April
Hetherington has gone under the knife for surgery on a torn bicep and is expected to be out long-term. While there isn’t a fixed return date, he is expected to miss the start of the 2023 season, given recovery from the injury is typically in the three-four month range.
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Return to training: November 7
World Cup Players return: January
Christmas break: Dec 22- Jan 4
Bailey Biondi-Odo
Injury: ACL
Expected return: mid-season 2023
Biondi-Odo suffered an ACL injury in September playing NSW Cup and is in the early stages of his rehab.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
Return to training: November 7
World Cup players return: From January 16
Christmas break: Dec 22- Jan 4
Reuben Garrick
Injury: shoulder
Expected return: Round 1
Garrick had surgery on a shoulder injury just over three months ago. He is running unrestricted and is now doing light skills work and weights in the gym.
Tom Trbojevic
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return: Round 1
After overcoming a shoulder injury, Trbojevic has suffered another setback, this time tweaking his hamstring at training. Scans revealed a grade two hamstring strain which would sideline him for 6-8 weeks. He will likely miss Manly’s trial matches but should be ready come Round 1.
Karl Lawton
Injury: Knee
Expected return: Mid-season 2023
Lawton is undergoing rehabilitation from his ACL injury. He is running well and changing directions freely.
Jason Saab
Injury: Knee
Expected return: Mid-season 2023
Saab is progressing well from the early stages of rehab of an ACL injury. He is getting ready to return to field running.
Morgan Harper
Injury: shoulder
Expected return: TBA
Harper is almost three months down the track from post-surgery on his shoulder. He is running well in rehab.
Ben Trbojevic
Injury: Shoulder
Expected return: TBA
Trbojevic has recovered well and has returned to non-contact training with the group.
Taniela Paseka
Injury: Knee
Expected return: TBA
Paseka underwent surgery at the end of the season. He has had a good off-season in rehab and is close to training with the playing group.
Morgan Boyle
Injury: Foot
Expected return: TBA
Morgan is in the early stages of an extensive recovery period following end of season surgery on a fractured foot.
Josh Aloiai
Injury: Knee
Expected return: TBA
Aloiai a month post operation since suffering a knee injury playing for Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup. He is coming along slowly and recovering as expected.
Alec Tuitavake
Injury: Knee
Expected return: TBA
Similar to Saab, Tuitavake is progressing well from the early stages of rehab. He is getting ready to return to field running.
MELBOURNE STORM
Return to training: November 7 (rookies), November 21 (full squad)
World Cup players: From January 9
Christmas break: Dec 20-Jan 4
Ryan Papenhuyzen
Injury: Fractured kneecap
Expected return: Round 1
Paps is working on a program to develop strength and power in his right leg after suffering multiple fractures in his kneecap against the Raiders in July. He won’t return to the main group until the New Year.
Christian Welch
Injury: Achilles
Expected return Round 1
After missing almost the entire 2022 season, the front-rower is tracking well to be available for the season opener against Parramatta. He is expected to return to full training in January.
“I’m slowly integrating back into the skills. It’s been really good to be back out there with the guys. It’s been a long time,” Welch said. “Hopefully by January I’ll be full noise.”
George Jennings
Injury: ACL
Expected return: Trials
After sustaining a torn ACL in round one in 2022, the winger has progressed well through his rehab work. He remains on a modified program but should be available for the pre-season trials.
Tom Eisenhuth
Injury: Syndesmosis
Expected return: Round 1
The utility forward has returned to full training with the NRL squad after sustaining a grade three syndesmosis injury against the Roosters at the end of August.
Dean Ieremia
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return: Round 1
The winger has returned to full training with the NRL squad after missing the final weeks of the season.
Xavier Coates
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return Round 1
The Origin winger suffered a torn hamstring in training for PNG prior to the Rugby League World Cup. He is on a modified program and will progress through to full training in the New Year.
Reimis Smith
Injury: Pec tear
Expected return: Round 1
The centre is progressing into skills training but is limited in his contact work.
Tyran Wishart
Injury: Syndesmosis
Expected return: Round 1
Storm’s 2022 Rookie of the Year is back in full training after missing the final month of the 2022 season after sustaining a syndesmosis injury against the Broncos in Brisbane.
WESTS TIGERS
Return to training: November 2
World Cup players return: Mid-December to Jan 23
Christmas break: December 21 – January 5
Tommy Talau
Injury: ACL repair
Expected return: Round 1
Talau has returned for the first time to full team training this pre-season after suffering an ACL injury in late 2021. He is expected to return for the start of the season.
Shawn Blore
Injury: ACL repair
Expected return: Round 1
Blore is progressing through his ACL return to play protocol. He is expected to return for the start of the season.
Alex Seyfarth
Injury: Pectoral muscle repair
Expected return: Round 1
Seyfarth has started ‘contact protocol’ after tearing a pectoral muscle late last season and is progressing well.
Ken Maumalo
Injury: Knee arthroscope
Expected return: Round 1
Maumalo has returned to full team training.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Return to training: November 7
World Cup players return: From January 4
Christmas break: December 22 – January 4
Sitili Tupouniua
Injury: ACL
Expected return: May 2023
Tupouniua is progressing well in his recovery from his ACL surgery. His rehabilitation continues on a modified training program with an anticipated return to play in May 2023.
Billy Smith
Injury: ACL
Expected return: May 2023
Smith is progressing well in his recovery from his ACL surgery. His rehabilitation continues on a modified training program with an anticipated return to play in May 2023.
PARRAMATTA EELS
Return to training: November 7th
World Cup players return: staggered return from 4th January
Christmas break: 21st – 4th January
Haze Dunster
Injury: Knee
Expected return: TBA
Dunster suffered a multi-ligament knee injury last pre-season. He is fully running and will integrate back into team training soon.
Bailey Simonsson
Injury: Shoulder
Expected return: TBA
Simonsson suffered a shoulder injury in the grand final, requiring surgery. He has returned to rehab running.
Josh Hodgson
Injury: Knee
Expected return: Round 1
Hodgson is training with the team, after suffering an ACL injury last season with the Raiders.
CRONULLA SHARKS
Return to training: November 4
World Cup players return: From January 5
Christmas break: December 21 to January 5
Braden Hamlin-Uele
Injury: Calf
Expected return: Round 1
Hamlin-Uele Injured his calf playing for Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup but is tracking well and should be ready for round one.
Matt Ikuvalu
Injury: Knee
Expected return: April 2023
Ikuvalu had right patella tendon reconstruction in September 2022. He is currently in the rehabilitation phase of recovery.
Jack Williams
Injury: Right Shoulder
Expected return: Round 1
Williams had a right shoulder reconstruction in July 2022. He is in full training with the squad.
Siteni Taukamo
Injury:Shoulder
Expected return: Round 8-9
Taukamo dislocated his right shoulder playing for Greece at the Rugby League World Cup. He is undergoing early rehab with modified weights and cross-training.
DOLPHINS
Return to training: November 7
World Cup players return: January 6
Christmas Break: Dec-24 – January 6
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Injury: Ankle
Expected return: Trials
Tabuai-Fidow is aiming to return to training in the next week and will start with light ball work before ramping things up after the Christmas break. Tabuai-Fidow went under the knife in October.
Ray Stone
Injury: ACL
Expected return: Round 1
Stone suffered an ACL injury playing for Parramatta in round three last season. The utility is close to full fitness and will return to full training with the squad by January.
Brenko Lee
Injury: Calf
Expected Return: Trials
Lee has struggled with calf injuries in recent seasons and is set to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks and will be looking to get back on the training paddock in Februrary.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Return to training: November 3
World Cup players return: January 6
Christmas Break: Dec-24 – January 6
Jarrod Croker
Injury: Shoulder
Expected return: Round 1
Croker is set to resume full training in early December following shoulder surgery earlier in 2022. He will return to contact training in early January.
Harley Smith-Shields
Injury: Knee
Expected return: Round 1
Smith-Shield will continue to build on his training loads as he returns from an ACL knee injury and is expected to return to full training in early January.
Corey Horsburgh
Injury: Shoulder
Expected return: Round 1
Horsburgh had minor shoulder surgery in the off-season but will look to resume most of the pre-season training sessions when he returns. He will look to introduce contact post-Christmas.
Adrian Trevilyan
Injury: Shoulder/Knee
Expected return: Mid-season 2023
Trevilyan is set for an extended period on the sideline following two major operations in the off-season. Trevilayn suffered an ACL injury at training late in the 2022 season and has had surgery on his knee. He also required a shoulder operation following a shoulder injury he sustained during the season.
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Return to training: November 9
World Cup players return: January 4 – 9
Christmas break: Dec 22 – Jan 4
Heilum Luki
Injury: Knee
Expected return round 4-6
Luki is six months post surgery for an ACL injury and is running well, and starting lateral movements. He has also returned to the gym.
Mitch Dunn
Injury: knee
Expected return: Early season
Dunn tore his ACL in Round 2 last season. He has resumed running, but will not be ready for Round 1. More definitive time frame will become clearer after Christmas.
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Return to training: November 2
World Cup players return: From December 12-January 4
Christmas break: December 21 to January 4
Ronald Volkman
Injury: Shoulder reconstruction
Expected return: Round 1
Volkman has returned to full training but is still on restricted contact for the time being.
Jazz Tevaga
Injury: Shoulder reconstruction
Expected return: Round 1
Tevaga is starting to build up his running volumes and strength. He will be back to full team training early-mid January.
Bailey Sironen
Injury: Osteitis Pubis groin surgery
Expected return: Round 1
Sironen had a groin injury that needed surgery. He is returning to full team training from mid-December.
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