Double trouble for Raiders with Hodgson, Simonsson ruled out for season

Canberra have been dealt a double blow with Josh Hodgson and Bailey Simonsson ruled out for the season after injuries suffered in Saturday night's loss to Melbourne.

Both players had scans on their injuries and they revealed Hodgson has ruptured his ACL and Simonsson's shoulder damage is worse than first feared.

Hodgson will consult a specialist this week to determine when he'll have surgery to repair the ligament.

Simonsson will also meet with a surgeon and Raiders officials believe he will most likely require surgery which will end his season. 

A "heartbroken" Ricky Stuart hailed his side's ability to stand up against all the adversity being thrown their way in the wake of Saturday night's 20-14 loss to the Storm. 

Their inspirational hooker was helped from the field with his ACL rupture in the first half.

Hodgson, who tore the ACL in his left knee at the 2017 World Cup and missed the first half of 2018, hobbled from the field in the 28th minute after rushing up in defence to tackle Cameron Smith – his right knee buckling in the process. 

The latest pair to suffer long-term injuries in the nation's capital join John Bateman (shoulder), Sia Soliola (facial fractures), Corey Horsburgh (foot) and Emre Guler (ankle) on the sidelines.

The club also released fringe forwards Jack Murchie (Warriors), Luke Bateman and JJ Collins during the COVID-19 season break.

"I haven't had [a bigger injury toll] but I just asked the boys after the game to keep turning up with that same attitude and desire with their competitiveness," Stuart said.

"They competed on everything tonight. I'm never happy after a loss... the word proud gets used a lot after losses but I was really appreciative of the effort they put in."

Stuart at least has depth in the outside backs to cover for Simonsson with Jordan Rapana and Curtis Scott waiting in the wings ahead of Thursday's grand final rematch against the Roosters. 

The injuries capped an eventful night for Stuart's men, who were on the end of a controversial call in the first half involving Simonsson that led to the Raiders coach speaking his mind in the post-match press conference.

The Raiders winger was sent for a 10-minute spell on the sidelines for a professional foul on Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr after the NRL Bunker reviewed the incident.

"We should never have been a man down, there is no way in the world he should've been sent to the sin bin," Stuart said.

"I don't want to make a big issue of it but I just don't understand how we use all this technology and money [but] still get it wrong.

"There was no way Bailey Simonsson should've been sent from the field when he was going for the football as well. They got it wrong, simple as that.

"Like they did in the Manly game [last week], but they'll be back in the box again next week."

The NRL announced on Sunday that the Bunker got it wrong with the decision to banish Simonsson to the sin bin.