NRL Early Mail round 17: Fletcher Sharpe suffers lacerated kidney

Knights star Fletcher Sharpe is recovering in a Perth hospital after suffering a lacerated kidney in Newcastle’s win over the Dolphins on Saturday.

Knights star Fletcher Sharpe is recovering in a Perth hospital after suffering a lacerated kidney in Newcastle’s win over the Dolphins on Saturday.

The five-eighth was taken to hospital after complaining of abdominal pain when he was taken from the field for a head injury assessment in the 48th minute.

Sharpe appeared to hit his head on the ground in a tackle by Dolphins hooker Jeremy Marshall-King but replays showed him appear to also be winded by the contact.

Knights medical staff sent Sharpe to hospital after the incident, where further assessment showed he had suffered the gruesome injury.

The club confirmed in a statement that Sharpe has remained in Perth on Sunday as he recovers in hospital.

“Fletcher Sharpe has been admitted to a Perth hospital after experiencing abdominal pain following his removal from the field in the 48th minute for a HIA assessment,” a Knights statement confirmed.

“Sharpe is currently being treated for a lacerated kidney.

“He will remain in Perth with Knights medical staff under observation for a number of days.”

Coach Adam O’Brien has a number of options to replace Sharpe in the halves alongside Jack Cogger for Friday’s clash against Canberra.

Jackson Hastings’ NRL exile ended in Round 15 and the halfback was the 18th man against the Dolphins on Saturday.

Tyson Gamble also returned from a thumb injury in NSW Cup on Sunday against the Eels.

Fletcher Sharpe has been admitted to hospital in Perth to be treated for a lacerated kidney - he left the field for a HIA but experienced abdominal pain.

Medical situations like this obviously prognosis has a wide range - common return to play in past cases has been 4-6 weeks. pic.twitter.com/Efgb8babsb

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 22, 2025

PANTHERS COP ANOTHER BLOW AMID LADDER SURGE

Penrith forward Scott Sorensen is facing another fortnight on the sidelines after being whacked with a grade two hip drop charge from Saturday’s win over the Warriors.

The Panthers were left surprised on Sunday morning when the charge sheet dropped, with Sorensen pinged for a tackle on Warriors star Dallin Watene-Zelezniak that went unnoticed in the run of play, but ruled the winger out of the second half with a suspected syndesmosis injury.

The grade two dangerous contact charge carries a two week suspension with an early guilty plea, but if he challenges at the judiciary he will miss three weeks.

It’s a risk Sorensen and the Panthers know all too well after he missed three games for a shoulder charge when found guilty at the judiciary back in round eight.

It means he will likely miss Thursday’s clash with Canterbury and a grudge match against Parramatta in round 19 as the Panthers make a run up the ladder.

Scott Sorensen has been charged for a hip drop on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Scott Sorensen is facing more time on the sidelines after being hit with a grade two hip drop charge. Picture: Getty Images

The blink-and-you-miss-it tackle on Watene-Zelezniak was in the 36th minute but he wasn’t put on report until halftime at Go Media Stadium.

The Warriors winger hobbled out of the contact and then didn’t return for the second half of the 28-18 loss.

Sorensen also copped a second charge for a careless high tackle on Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, but will escape with an $1800 fine.

Nicoll-Klokstad has also copped a $1000 fine for a high shot on Tom Jenkins, while Knights winger James Schiller will fork out $3000 for a third and subsequent high shot on Dolphins forward Oryn Keeley.

Souths forward Lachlan Hubner was also fined $1800 for contrary conduct in their loss to Melbourne.

Originally published as NRL Early Mail round 17: Fletcher Sharpe suffers lacerated kidney