NRL 2026, Injuries, suspension, return dates, casualty ward and key information for the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership season

NRL Casualty Ward: Barnett breaks thumb; Tui out of hospital

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Thu 2 Apr 2026, 09:47 AM

Warriors prop Mitch Barnett is facing another stint on the sideline after breaking his thumb in last Friday's loss to Wests Tigers.

Barnett has undergone surgery with a return to play date yet to be determined.

The 31-year-old was just two games into his comeback from an ACL injury suffered in Round 13 last year.

The Warriors head to Sydney to face the Sharks, who have back-rower Briton Nikora on track to return from a broken nose.

Melbourne Storm prop and Fiji Bati captain Tui Kamikamica has been discharged from hospital to commence a period of inpatient rehabilitation.

The Storm advised on Thursday that it was anticipated Kamikamica will be able to return to the cub following his rehabilitation period and continue his recovery under the care of the club's medical staff.

"The club would like to thank the medical professionals at Royal Melbourne Hospital and Ambulance Victoria for their outstanding care of Tui and extend its appreciation to everyone who has supported Tui and his family during this difficult time," the statement said.

The Storm will be missing centre Moses Leo due to delayed concussion symptoms and Jack Howarth (hip) but Nick Meaney returns from a back injury for the clash against the Panthers on Good Friday.

Dragons five-eighth Kyle Flanagan has been cleared of serious injury following a head clash late in Sunday night's loss to the Titans.

The playmaker was assisted from the field after clashing heads with a team-mate while attempting to make a tackle in the game at Cbus Super Stadium.

In a statement on Monday morning, the Dragons said Flanagan had been released from hospital after scans cleared him of serious injury.

He looks likely to miss two matches and return in Round 7.

Flanagan has been replaced by Lhykan King-Togia for the Dragons' Round 5 clash against the Cowboys.

The Bulldogs head into their Good Friday clash against the Rabbitohs without back-rower Josh Curran, who injured his ribs in a monster Pasami Saulo tackle last Saturday.

The Rabbitohs are boosted by the return of winger Campbell Graham from a shoulder injury he suffered against the Roosters in Round 2.

The Broncos, meanwhile, have confirmed that winger Grant Anderson will be sidelined for 10-12 weeks with a knee injury.

Scans revealed Anderson sustained a grade 3 Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) injury and fractured tibial plateau in Friday night’s win over the Dolphins.

The Eels' 28-point loss to western Sydney rivals Penrith in Round 4 was compounded by injuries to Matt Doorey and Isaiah Iongi.

Scans have confirmed that Doorey suffered an ACL tear which will require surgery once the swelling in his knee subsides. An injury of this nature will involve 9-12 months recovery time.

Iongi has suffered a syndesmosis injury to his ankle. It will require surgery which will take place this week and will require a minimum of eight weeks on the sidelines to recover.

The Eels were already missing J'maine Hopgood (ACL) and Jordan Samrani (knee).

Hopgood will require surgery once the swelling in his knee subsides and is facing 9-12 months recovery time while Samrani has had surgery and is facing a minimum of six weeks on the sidelines.

Manly have received a boost ahead of their clash with the Dolphins with forward Ethan Bullemor named to play despite suffering an Achilles injury in the warm-up ahead of the Roosters game.

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