NRL 2024, Injuries, suspension, return dates, casualty ward and key information for the 2024 NRL Telstra Premiership season

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sun 12 May 2024, 05:56 PM

The Titans suffered a significant injury toll in Sunday's win over the Cowboys with Harley Smith-Shields likely sidelined for the reminder of the season while three other players also failed to finish the match.

Winger Phillip Sami was the first player to head down the tunnel after suffering a hamstring injury in the first half while Kieran Foran (hamstring), AJ Brimson (groin) and Smith-Shields (pectoral) also failed to finish the match.

Coach Des Hasler confirmed post-match that Smith-Shields was likely to be sideline for the remainder of the season with a suspected ruptured pec while skipper Foran believes he will be 'pushing it' to return next Saturday.

The Warriors, meanwhile, could be without star duo Shaun Johnson (pectoral) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) for Sunday's Magic Round clash with the Panthers.

Johnson suffered a pectoral injury early in the match and despite choosing to play on, was ruled out after leaving the field in the 67th minute.

Coach Andrew Webster said post-match that the Kiwi International would be sent for scans on Monday but is likely to be in doubt for their Round 11 match.

"It's a pec...it's not ruptured. It was a tough conversation at half time but he said he wanted to go on and I'm really proud of the way he wanted to do that," Webster told media.

Meanwhile, Webster also confirmed post-match that Tuivasa-Sheck could be sidelined from anywhere between 2-6 weeks after he missed the Round 10 clash due to a hamstring injury.

Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary is set to miss the entire State of Origin series after scans revealed he suffered a grade two hamstring tear during Friday night's match against the Bulldogs.

The Panthers released a statement on Sunday confirming the champion No.7 would be sidelined for eight weeks, meaning he would only be back on deck for one NRL game before Origin Three if all goes smoothly with his recovery.

Cleary came from BlueBet Stadium just before half-time after calling for assistance from a Penrith trainer after chasing his own kick and spent most of the second half watching from the coach's box with ice on his leg.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said: "He's pretty shattered actually. It's very disappointing for him. I'm torn between his coach and his dad right now."

Cleary's deputy Brad Schneider also failed to finish his match in NSW Cup after suffering a knee injury.

More drama for the Blues Origin camp when Cronulla playmaker Nicho Hynes dropped out of Saturday's game against the Storm with calf tightness.

The club reported that Hynes was given every chance in a bid to take his place in the team to face Melbourne, but coaching and medical staff were of the belief the risk of further damage was too great.

"We haven't had a great deal of time to assess it but I'd suggest it's not significant though so he's a good chance [for next week]," Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said post-match.

Meanwhile, Manly and Blues gun Tom Trbojevic is expected to be unavailable for seven weeks with a hamstring injury.

With Origin I to be played at Accor Stadium on June 5 and Origin II at the MCG on June 26, Trbojevic is set to be unavailable for the first two matches of the series and may be racing the clock for Origin III at Suncorp Stadium on July 17.

Trbojevic and winger Jason Saab were sent for scans after failing to finish Thursday night's match against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.

A Sea Eagles statement said Trbojevic would be sidelined for approximately seven weeks by a hamstring injury, while Saab has an A/C joint injury and will miss several weeks.

Both the Wests Tigers and Knights suffered mid-game injuries during their clash in Tamworth, with Knights five-eighth Tyson Gamble suffering a potentially serious foot injury which saw him on crutches after being ruled out at half-time.

Wests Tigers centre Starford To'a also picked up a hamstring injury on 15 minutes and back-rower John Bateman was ruled out at half-time with a pectoral problem.

"Starford is probably going to miss a couple of weeks with a hamstring and Johnny will have to have scans, a suspected strained pec, maybe a tear," Tigers coach Benji Marshall said post-match.

Knights coach Adam O'Brien said Gamble had "a break on the outside of the foot so it's not ideal, another spine member down for us".

The Broncos, meanwhile, lost hooker Billy Walters to a wrist injury early into their win over the Eels on Friday night.

Walters left the match in the 13th minute and did not return, with coach Kevin Walters revealing he could be in doubt for Magic Round.

"Billy's got a ligament problem in his wrist and he got a bang on it early in the game so he could barely pass," Walters said post-match. "I'd say he'd be in doubt for next week."

To view the complete NRL Casualty Ward, please visit the hub page.