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Corey Oates. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Broncos winger Corey Oates will undergo surgery today after suffering a “displaced fracture” to the jaw during his side’s 28-16 Round 2 win over the Cowboys and is expected to be sidelined for between six to eight weeks.
Oates was injured from a shoulder charge by Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater who is now facing a four-week suspension. He will miss three matches if he accepts the early guilty plea.
Cowboys teammate Peta Hiku faces a three-week suspension for an earlier crusher tackle on Oates in the same match, but will only miss two games if he doesn’t fight the charge.
Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster will miss up to three weeks following surgery on a compound fracture injury to his finger. Munster sustained the injury while making a tackle during the Storm’s 13-12 win over the Eels.
His teammate Xavier Coates is set to also miss two weeks after suffering a shoulder injury in the same match.
Roosters enforcer Matt Lodge will undergo surgery this week after a head clash resulted in a depressed facial fracture during his side’s Round 1 loss to the Dolphins. It is unsure how long he will be sidelined, but these injuries can see players out for around four to six weeks.
Matt Lodge will undergo surgery after suffering a depressed (“divot” in the bone) facial fracture yesterday. No expected recovery range provided by the Roosters as yet – though have often seen a return within 4-6 weeks for fractures of this nature in the past pic.twitter.com/l9JCc7xeqH
Lodge’s teammate Victor Radley was also unable to finish the match, failing an HIA after collecting the hip of Dolphin forward Kenny Bromwich. Radley had not long returned to the field after sustaining an eye injury earlier in the match after some friendly fire from a teammate during a tackle. He will be assessed during the week.
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Tigers forward Shawn Blore’s return from missing 18 months due to an ACL injury did not last long, failing an HIA after being on the field for only 18 minutes. He will undergo protocols before being cleared to play.
It’s the same story for Knights forward Tyson Frizell who failed his HIA during the Knights loss to the Warriors. Kalyn Ponga also came off for an HIA in the same match but was eventually cleared so will be fine for Round 2.
The Rabbitohs will be sweating on the fitness of a few starts, with Tevita Taola suffering a head knock and Jai Arrow a hamstring injury during their win against the Sharks. Both failed to finish the match and will be assessed during the week. Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell is also suffering from a PCL injury but is expected to be fine for Round 2.
Latrell Mitchell won’t go for scans after suffering a suspected PCL injury (via @telegraph_sport). Ability to play out the game in Rd 1 hopefully points to minor PCL sprain, often results in no missed time but can have performance implications pic.twitter.com/hOf8WoVAxC
Titans halfback Kieran Foran will undergo scans to determine the extent of a knee injury he sustained during his side’s 22-10 win over the Tigers. His teammate Beau Fermor will miss the entire season after suffering a knee injury at training.
Foran was unable to finish the match, with coach Justin Holbrook hopeful his star recruit can return soon. Holbrook believes it looks more likely a PCL injury as opposed to an ACL injury.
Canterbury forward Luke Thompson will miss at least three months after suffering an ankle injury at training.New coach Cameron Ciraldo is lacking a few key forwards with Tevita Pangai jnr, Chris Patolo and Bailey Biondi-Odo also injured.
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Panthers winger Taylan May will miss the entire 2023 season after it was confirmed he suffered a ruptured ACL during his side’s loss to St Helens in the World Club Challenge.
May was controversially allowed to play in Penrith’s 2022 Grand Final win and have a two-match suspension moved to the start of the current season. It is unclear if this will now be rescheduled for the start of the 2024 season.
Scans reveal worse than expected news for Taylan May, with a ruptured ACL ruling him out for the season. Contact mechanism obviously causing significant enough medial collapse of the knee. Will undergo reconstruction surgery & associated 9 month recovery time. pic.twitter.com/VkYM1aIYNy
The Bulldogs will be without Tevita Pangai Jnr until at least Round 4 after he suffered a calf strain at training. He is expected to be replaced by Fa’amanu Brown for the Dogs season opener against the Sea Eagles.
Warriors half Luke Metcalf missed his new club’s second trial match after sustaining a hamstring injury, and is expected to be sidelined for much of the season.
Eels back-rower Shaun Lane suffered a fractured jaw during his side’s 36-14 win over the Knights during week 2 of the Pre-Season Challenge.
Lane lasted seven minutes in his first hit-out of the year before he was left clutching at his jaw after copping a shoulder from Daniel Saifiti while attempting a tackle. He was sent straight for scans, receiving the bad news the following day. At this stage the length of time Lane will spend on the sidelines is unknown.
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CT scans have confirmed Broncos fullback Reece Walsh suffered a fracture to his eye’s orbital floor during his side’s 24-all draw with the Titans on Sunday night.
The 20-year-old does not require surgery but it is set to miss a few weeks.
Scans confirm an orbital floor (base of eye socket) fracture for Reece Walsh. Thankfully surgery not required (nil double vision/muscle entrapment, fracture <50% of floor). Can be a relatively quick recovery, Round 1 in 3 weeks time likely still a possibility pic.twitter.com/wi0YHc2Dy1
Melbourne wrecking ball Justin Olam is expected to miss the first six weeks of the NRL season after fracturing his jaw during Week 1 of the Pre-Season Challenge
The Papua New Guinea star was hurt early in the Storm’s 32-24 defeat to the Sydney Roosters and was sent for scans immediately after. Those scans have confirmed a fracture, with Olam set to undergo surgery
Canberra also suffered a monumental injury blow with fullback Xavier Savage to miss the first six rounds of the NRL season with a fractured jaw.
During the Raiders match against the Bulldogs, Savage was collected by Canterbury forward Jackson Topine and is expected to be out until at least round seven.
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Xavier Savage to have scans on a suspected broken jaw, mechanism = head clash after passing. Had a rough game with 2 heavy head knocks.
If jaw fracture confirmed 4-6 weeks usually best case, can extend out if complex or multiple fractures. pic.twitter.com/ytkKaLWDCj
The injury comes as a significant hit to Canberra, given they let fellow fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad go to the Warriors at the end of last year.
Before the trials even began, the Sharks were dealt a huge blow with fullback Kade Dykes undergoing surgery from a ruptured ACL at training and is set to miss the entire 2023 season. This creates a lack of depth in the fullback department with Lachlan Miller moving over to the Knights just days before the injury to Dykes.
Roosters utility Connor Watson was expected to receive the same fate after rupturing his patella tendon during training, but after a successful surgery, there is a chance of him returning in August.
Confirmation of a patellar tendon rupture for Connor Watson, suffered in early January at Roosters training. Has undergone repair surgery & is aiming for a 6 month return to play. Extremely challenging rehab (significant strength loss), arguably tougher than ACL tear pic.twitter.com/dLGDcZ1D0K
