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

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 18 May 2024, 05:50 PM

Knights coach Adam O'Brien is hopeful star centre Bradman Best will be available for NSW selection after suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday's 28-24 defeat of the Titans.

Best, who was a member of the Blues team that won Origin III last season, played through to halftime but failed to return for the second term after succumbing to the injury.

However, O'Brien said it wasn't "all doom and gloom" for NSW coach Michael Maguire, and he hoped Best would be selected for the June 5 series opener at Accor Stadium.

"There was obviously some hamstring awareness," O'Brien said. "That's why we made the decision at half time.

"He's hopefully got some really big things to come his way.

"There's certainly something to do with a hamstring, but it was a stretching motion rather than like a sprinting pain type thing.

"I really hope for the kid that he's going to be okay because he deserves to be there."

The Gold Coast also had an early blow with forward Jaimin Jolliffe leaving the field just eight minutes into the match.

The prop was later ruled out with a pec injury.

Powerhouse front-rower Payne Haas sent a scare through both the Broncos and Blues camps on Friday night when he limped off the field with a toe injury.

Haas was assisted from the Suncorp Stadium turf an hour into his side's Magic Round win over the Sea Eagles and initially appeared unable to put weight on his left side, before returning to play the final six minutes.

Post-match Broncos coach Kevin Walters explained how the injury occurred and said he expects Haas to be good to go for Round 12.

"He got a knee to his calf which triggered a nerve problem in his big toe," Walters said.

"He's still limping and he's not right, but he should be right for next week, which is gold for us."

Meanwhile, Sea Eagles forward Matt Lodge is set to undergo surgery after suffering a suspected torn bicep earlier in the match.

The 28-year-old came off the bench in the 33rd minute however left the field just 11 minutes later and did not return.

Already missing a glut of talent, including fullback Reece Walsh who missed Round 12 with knee soreness, Brisbane could ill afford to lose their forward leader, while the scare will also have been felt within the NSW Blues setup with Origin I less than three weeks away.

New Blues head coach Michael Maguire has already lost Nathan Cleary and Tom Trbojevic to hamstring injuries which are expected to sideline them for around two months.

Eels halfback and NSW hopeful Mitch Moses meanwhile is a chance of returning to the field in Round 12 following a layoff with a foot injury.

Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt will miss Saturday's Magic Round match against the Rabbitohs due to an ankle injury.

Sharks playmaker Nicho Hynes has been named to return for the clash against the Roosters after missing the win over Melbourne due to calf tightness.

The Roosters will be without centre Joey Manu after the Kiwi international suffered a head knock late in his side's Round 10 win over the Warriors.

Warriors captain Tohu Harris was a late withdrawal from Sunday's match against the Panthers due to a finger injury.

The Warriors will also be without several stars for their Round 11 clash against the Panthers with Shaun Johnson (pectoral), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) and Rocco Berry (hand) set for several weeks on the sideline.

Johnson suffered a minor pectoral muscle injury in last Sunday’s loss to the Roosters and is expected to miss the next two matches against the Panthers and Dolphins with an estimated return to play date after the club’s Round 13 bye.

Tuivasa-Sheck, meanwhile, isn't expected back until Round 17 after suffering a hamstring injury at training in the lead-up to Round 10.

The Titans have suffered a significant blow to their halves stocks with AJ Brimson looking at 6-8 weeks out with a groin injury while Tanah Boyd (wrist) faces at least another month on the sideline.

Veteran Kieran Foran has a minor hamstring strain and is a chance to return in Round 12 but winger Phil Sami will miss a month with a hamstring strain and centre Harley Smith-Shields is looking at six weeks out with a pectoral injury.

Knights playmaker Tyson Gamble is facing 10 weeks out following surgery on a foot injury picked up in Round 10.

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