Battle of the busted: Injury carnage threatens to hijack NRL finals
Updated . First published at
The NRL finals series is into its second week and a host of players are limping – some literally – as the pursuit of premiership glory heats up.
Some of the players fighting injury as the premiership race narrows to six teams are among rugby league’s absolute elite. Nathan Cleary is one. Ditto Sam Walker.
From left: star playmakers Sam Walker, Nathan Cleary and Braydon Trindall. NRL Imagery
As the Roosters and Sharks prepare to face off, the Warriors and Knights stare each other down, and the Panthers and Dolphins enjoy a well-deserved week off, nine.com.au takes a look at the injury battles facing each club.
Roosters
Roosters ace Walker (syndesmosis) won’t be back for Saturday’s do-or-die clash with the Sharks but he could line up in a preliminary final, provided the Tricolours get that far. Remarkably, he was back running just 12 days post-surgery. The rugby-bound Angus Crichton will suit up against the Sharks, having not played since round 15 because of a stress fracture in his foot, which required surgery. Fellow back-rower Egan Butcher is sidelined this week with concussion.
Sam Walker could be back for a potential preliminary final. Getty Images
Sharks
One of the major injury watches in this finals series is Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall, who returned for last week’s elimination final against the Cowboys less than a month after dislocating his shoulder. Trindall was visibly in pain at times throughout the win over North Queensland, but he battled on and will try to do the same against the Roosters. Expect the Tricolours to bombard him with traffic.
Warriors
Injury clouds are hanging over two of the Warriors’ star forwards, Jackson Ford and Leka Halasima, after a costly elimination final against the Dolphins. Ford won’t play against the Knights because of an ankle injury he suffered in the loss. Halasima might, having been named on an extended bench after tweaking his hamstring in the warm-up. Star winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was also named in the reserves, so he could be back not quite a month after breaking his collarbone and undergoing surgery. Otherwise, second-rower Jacob Laban has been named to start despite struggling with a knee injury in last week’s loss.
Knights
When NSW Blues representative Dylan Lucas was struck down by a fractured and dislocated ankle in round 21, it was understandably said to be a season-ending blow. But after being named on an extended beach for the Eden Park clash less than two months later, the second-rower could be set for a miracle return. Otherwise, back-rower Francis Manuleleua – an RLPA Rookie of the Year finalist this season – is battling on after dislocating his elbow in round 26. The young gun carried the injury through Newcastle’s elimination final win over South Sydney.
Dylan Lucas is helped off the field with a fractured and dislocated ankle. Getty Images
Panthers
Cleary avoided suspension for his dangerous contact on Hugo Savala last week, but a “stress-related bone issue” has rugby league’s best player in doubt for Penrith’s preliminary final. “You will have no idea what is going on with Nathan until potentially an hour before kick-off,” Billy Slater said on his podcast. The rampaging Liam Martin was seen clutching at his hamstring in the qualifying final win over the Roosters but he played the entire 80 minutes.
Dolphins
The Dolphins have the cleanest bill of health of the six teams remaining. Front-rower Tom Flegler suffered a concussion in a nasty collision with Warriors prop Mitch Barnett last week, but he should be ready to go for the Dolphins’ first-ever NRL preliminary final. Star winger Selwyn Cobbo (ankle), strike back-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (knee) and playmaker Kodi Nikorima (hamstring tightness) missed round 27 but returned for the Redcliffe outfit’s qualifying final.
