Massive blow for Knights with Johns out for the season with ACL injury

[injuryupdate]

It is often said that injuries hold the key to a team's season, and never is this more apparent than the scenario now confronting the Newcastle Knights. Captain and halfback Andrew Johns had his right knee collapse on changing direction in the match against Parramatta and immediately had to leave the field on a Medicab. This mechanism was typical of an anterior cruciate ligament tear, requiring a knee reconstruction and putting him out for the season. Johns is acknowledged as the NRL's best player and most important for his team and his absence will probably cruel the Knight's chances as it has on many occasions before. In the State of Origin series, his absence almost brings the Maroons in as favourites to beat the Blues, such is his influence. His loss is comparable and analogous to Ian Thorpe's 400m disqualification on the same day. To add to the terrible night for Newcastle, rookie fullback David Seage felt his left knee collapse changing direction in an almost identical mechanism. Despite two non-contact ACL injuries on the one night, the surface appeared to be in excellent condition, although it is possible that the playing conditions relate somewhat to these injuries. ACL injuries are more common early in the season in the all football codes, including NRL, probably due to changes in ground conditions. Read more about the relationship between ground conditions and injury.
www.injuryupdate.com.au/images/research/SMgroundcond.pdf
The Knights also will have Timana Tahu missing with a hamstring strain for the next 2 matches. To complete the night of carnage, Parramatta's Aaron Cannings broke his forearm in the game.