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

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sun 16 Aug 2026, 06:34 PM

Broncos superstar Reece Walsh will see a surgeon on Monday with the expectation of surgery and a recovery time of up to eight weeks.

Walsh had scans on Sunday which confirmed he had sustained a high-grade syndesmosis injury during the loss to the Warriors on Saturday night.

Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was sin binned for a hip drop tackle on Walsh and is now facing a two-game ban after being charged by the match review committee.

With Australia's World Cup opener against the Kiwis set down for Thursday, October 15 it appears Walsh's chances of representing the Kangaroos are gone.

Meanwhile, Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf may have played his last match of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday's match.

Metcalf, who returned last week from a four-month lay-off with a hamstring injury, clutched at the back of his right leg after a shot at goal.

He came from the field and Warriors medical staff immediately strapped ice to the back of his thigh.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster said: "Luke's got a hamstring history, but to do it kicking the goal is the first time that's ever happened to him and he's obviously gutted. But look, we're always optimistic and hopefully we can get him back in time and he can play a part in the back end of the season".

Metcalf leaves the field

Cronulla playmaker Braydon Trindall was forced from the field after dislocating his shoulder at Ocean Protect Stadium on Saturday.

Trindall had just got his side's first try in the opening moments of the match, but landed awkwardly, coming from the field immediately after scoring.

Medical staff were able to get it back in, but the call was made to sit him out and await further scans.

Trindall dislocates shoulder while scoring try

The Sharks came into the game without Jesse Ramien, who has played his final game for the club with the centre undergoing season-ending pectoral surgery on Thursday.

Ramien suffered the injury in the second half of last week's loss to St George Illawarra and will depart the Sharks at the end of the season to join the Cowboys.

The Raiders too were stuck an injury blow in the match, with English forward Morgan Smithies failing his HIA in the first half.

Titans winger Dean Ieremia was withdrawn from his side's Sunday match against Newcastle with a hamstring complaint.

Further issues for the Titans in the game with forward Josh Patston ruled out in the first half with a head knock.

The Knights then lost veteran centre Dane Gagai at the half-time break with a hamstring issue.

In Sunday's final game of Round 24, Alex Twal was a late withdrawal for Wests Tigers due to illness.

In a further blow, winger Sunia Turuva came from the field with a knee injury.

Broncos veteran Adam Reynolds faces a battle to return to the field before hanging up the boots after suffering a calf strain at training on Wednesday.

The premiership winner has not played since suffering a head knock in the Round 22 loss to the Knights and the latest setback puts his hopes of playing out his final season before retiring at the end of the year at risk.

In a statement, the Broncos said Reynolds will be assessed on a weekly basis to determine a return to play.

"Scans at the Clive Berghofer Centre’s Qscan facility confirmed that Broncos captain Adam Reynolds sustained a grade 1 soleus strain on his right calf at training yesterday," the club said.

"His return-to-play timeline will be determined on a week-by-week basis."

Brisbane forward Cory Paix has also undergone shoulder surgery to repair a labral injury.

In Friday night's clash at Accor Stadium, the Rabbitohs lost Adam Elliott to a groin injury early in the first half.

The Bunnies have lost halfback Ashton Ward (hamstring) for the remainder of the season while Jamie Humphreys is also sidelined with an ankle injury. The Rabbitohs have said he is a week-to-week proposition with a chronic ankle issue.

The Bulldogs lost winger Jethro Rinakama to a knee injury during Friday night's loss to Souths.

Earlier on Friday, Dolphins back-rower Connelly Lemuelu suffered a hamstring injury midway through the second half against Manly.

Gun fullback James Tedesco fell short in his bid to return from an ankle injury for Thursday's top-of-the-table showdown between the Roosters and Panthers.

The Roosters also remain without representative stars Angus Crichton (foot) and Daniel Tupou (shoulder).

In an update at his weekly press conference, coach Trent Robinson said he hopes the pair will be back before the end of the regular season.

"They’re a few weeks away still," Robinson said. "Toups is back running well, with his shoulder injury so that’s still a few weeks away.

"Gussie had a medical appointment on Monday. There’s some good progression there and he’s starting to get back into some more movement. Again, it’s not within the next week or two but it’d be nice [to have him back] before the end of the regular season as well."

The Panthers are missing captain Isaah Yeo due to a pectoral injury suffered in last week's loss to the Warriors.

The NSW and Australian skipper received some positive news on Monday, with scans revealing he does not need season-ending surgery and could return at the start of the finals series.

The Panthers had one injury concern out of their 12-6 loss to the Roosters, with Paul Alamoti leaving the field in the 75th minute.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said post-match the centre suffered a leg injury and would go for scans.

Parramatta fullback Isaiah Iongi has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after injuring his syndesmosis and his medial ligament.

"He would be touch and go for the World Cup," coach Jason Ryles said on Friday. "It's a 12-14 week injury."

The Warriors welcomed back Demitric Vaimauga from a rib injury for Saturday's clash at Suncorp Stadium, with playmaker Te Maire Martin expected to miss the next two games with a hamstring injury.

Manly were without prop Taniela Paseka for their clash with the Dolphins after the forward injured his MCL against the Storm in Round 23. Paseka is expected to miss the next two weeks. In positive news, Clayton Faulalo returned from a hamstring injury.

Tom Trbojevic is still 1-2 weeks away from returning from a hamstring injury, while Ethan Bullemor remains in the concussion protocol and will also miss Friday's match.

A cruel blow for Bulldogs back-rower Sitili Tupouniua who suffered another hamstring injury in his first game back after five weeks on the sideline.

Talking at his weekly press conference on Thursday, coach Cameron Ciraldo left the door open for Tupouniua to return before the season ends.

"We have no real return as yet," Ciraldo told reporters. "He needs to get through the first part of his rehab, make sure we're ticking all the boxes and we should know more in a couple of weeks.

"I'm not ruling anything out at the moment. If we make sure he gets the first few weeks of rehab right, then anything's possible after that."

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