NRL Round 2 injuries

[Danny]

What a start to the season! Injuries everywhere!

None more so for Souths who have lost Geddes for the seaosn, Lowe for at least 2 months and Burgess for a month (and even then I'm sure team's will target that left shoulder now)


Visit our injury list for all the updates: http://www.injuryupdate.com.au/nrl.php

South Sydney's Sam Burgess hopeful of NRL return in less than a month, Crocker back for round two
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Burgess had surgery on his left shoulder in the off-season and damaged it again just 30 minutes into Souths' opening loss to the Roosters last Friday night.

It was feared the Englishman might require further surgery and miss up to four months of football, but Burgess says he should be back in two to four weeks.

"Fingers crossed hopefully I'll be back out there in two-four weeks, I'll work hard on some rehab and we'll go from there," Burgess said on Monday.

"The results have come back pretty positively this morning.

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"A little bit of damage in the back of the shoulder where it was damaged before but we're confident that with an intense rehab program I'll be ready to go in two-four weeks.

"Naturally worried but I always fear the worst and that's a problem I've got. Friday night was a tough time for me but I got some good results this morning and I'm happy with it.

"The shoulder's fine, I've got full movement now."

Burgess said he had no regrets about coming back for week one, and said he felt 100 per cent with his shoulder leading into the Roosters clash.

"It was a bit of a shock, I trained really well and the shoulder had been really strong in training and I felt really confident to play," he said.

"I've had plenty of shoulder problems throughout my career and I'm only young so I'm certainly driving the boat at the minute ... at the end of the day it's my final call and I won't go back out there until I'm fully fit."

The full extent of the Rabbitohs injury crisis is now known, with prop Scott Geddes ruled out for the season with his Achilles and second rower Ben Lowe to miss three-four months with his fractured foot.

Souths look like they'll receive some good news however, with former Origin and Test veteran Michael Crocker set to make his return against Canterbury on Sunday.

[Danny]

Manly boys Lyon (hamstring) and Rodney (shoulder) will both miss at least a month........to offset this young hopoate may be rushed back round 2 (initially thought to ba round 5 return)

Visit our injury list for all the updates: http://www.injuryupdate.com.au/nrl.php

Manly will be without star centre Jamie Lyon for up to a month; Shane Rodney will miss six weeks
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Guests Mitchell Pearce and Cameron Smith will help us digest all the latest news as well as looking back at round one and ahead to round two of the NRL season.

The Props Pentathlon returns with a new and deviously tricky challenge: the cross-field bomb. We'll have the latest from Fox Sports Fantasy NRL, the return of Wiz's Wizard Stat of the Week and a special feature on the NZ legends v Australia legends Christchurch earthquake charity game played in Auckland.

It's all on NRL on Fox this Wednesday from 7.30pm (EDT) on Fox Sports 2HD and Fox Sports 2.
Lyon has had scans on the injury, which the club describes as a strain, and will miss two to four weeks of action.
It leaves the Sea Eagles' centre stocks seriously depleted, with New Zealand international Steve Matai suspended until round five.
Compounding the bad news for Manly, backrower Shane Rodney will miss six weeks with a shoulder injury after making a return from a knee problem in the NSW Cup.
Prop and co-captain Jason King was put on report in the 64th minute of the Storm game for lifting his knee as he was tackled by Storm skipper Cameron Smith.
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King will learn if he faces a charge from the judiciary late Monday.
On a brighter note for the club, winger William Hopoate's shoulder injury is not as bad as first thought and he could be available for Sunday's clash with the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium.
It had been feared Hopoate would miss six weeks.

[Danny]

Raiders coach not confident in quick turnaround giving enough time for Dugan and Orford. Both will probably be named but both would be in doubt

Tongue left licking his wounds
March 14, 2011 - 3:28PM

Game ending injury ... Alan Tongue

Game ending injury ... Alan Tongue. Photo: Lannon Harley

Canberra captain Alan Tongue will see a specialist on Tuesday but is expected to miss up to six weeks of NRL action with a shoulder injury.

Tongue injured an AC joint in Sunday's impressive 40-12 thrashing of Cronulla at Canberra Stadium.

The Raiders say he will miss 4-6 weeks but will await medical advice.
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The inspirational skipper also missed a large chunk of the 2010 season, managing just 12 games.

Fullback Josh Dugan (calf) and halfback Matt Orford (groin) both ran on Monday but coach David Furner isn't counting on their availability with a short turnaround to Friday night's clash with Brisbane.

"It's a matter of seeing how they pull up tomorrow," Furner said.

"Being a short turnaround, we've only got one training session. So the decision will be made fairly quickly."

Glen Buttriss and Travis Waddell will come into calculations for Tongue's No.9 jersey.

Young half Sam Williams, who starred on debut against the Sharks, and back David Milne are likely to make way for Orford and Dugan if they are passed fit.

[Danny]

Newcastle set to miss Isaac De Gois for a month, Nevilled Costigan is out for three to four months

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Newcastle's bright start to the NRL season has quickly been grounded, with crafty hooker Isaac De Gois undergoing surgery for a broken thumb
As the worst fears for star recruit Neville Costigan were also confirmed, De Gois went under the knife on Monday afternoon and could miss a month of football.

The Knights shot to an early season first place on the ladder with Sunday's resounding 42-8 win over Penrith but now head to Townsville to play North Queensland without De Gois, Costigan and possibly captain Kurt Gidley.

Coach Rick Stone had been hopeful De Gois had jarred the thumb at Centrebet Stadium.

"He's got a fracture at the base of his thumb which is going to keep him out for three to four weeks," Stone said.

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Costigan, a premiership winner with St George Illawarra last year, will miss 3-4 months.

"He's really disappointed, Nev, he had a big pre-season, first game for the club," Stone said.

"He leads a lot with his actions and he had brought a bit of that toughness to us."

The club says Gidley is some chance of overcoming back spasms in time for Saturday's match.

"We haven't got the report back but our doctor Neil Halpin has had a look at the scans and basically he's all but ruled out any major injury," Stone said.

"Kurt's still a bit stiff and sore at the moment and ... it all depends on how his back and body loosens up over the next couple of days.

"He's had a similar injury around Origin last year and still got away with playing inside a week so probably at least it's something he's a little bit understanding of."

[Danny]

Carney looks a certain starter for round 1

Carney's return a big boost for Roosters to face winged Sea Eagles
Brad Walter
March 15, 2011
SMH
Sam Burgess.

WHILE their opponents Manly have been hit hard by injuries and suspension, Sydney Roosters are set to be at full strength for Sunday's match at the SFS after star playmaker Todd Carney proved his fitness at training yesterday.

Carney missed Friday night's 40-29 defeat of South Sydney with a groin injury, and Roosters coach Brian Smith said after the match that the 2010 player of the year was also doubtful for the Sea Eagles clash after pulling up sore from training the day before.

But Smith told the Herald yesterday Carney had trained well yesterday, and was now likely to make his first appearance since undergoing off-season surgery, against a depleted Manly side expected to be captained by second-rower Glenn Stewart.
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With co-captains Jamie Lyon (hamstring) and Jason King (suspension) unavailable, Stewart is the man tipped to take over the skipper's duties on Sunday.

Lyon is expected to be out for four matches, while King will return next week after serving a one-match ban for raising his knee as he entered a tackle by Melbourne captain Cameron Smith on Saturday night.

The Sea Eagles are already without suspended Kiwis Test centre Steve Matai for another four weeks and have also lost back-rower Shane Rodney (shoulder) but rookie Will Hopoate has been cleared of any serious damage to his shoulder and will play, along with returning international David Williams.

Canberra and Newcastle are other clubs battling early-season injury woes, with Raiders skipper Alan Tongue expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks with a shoulder injury and star backs Matt Orford and Josh Dugan in doubt to make their comebacks after missing Sunday's 40-12 demolition of Cronulla.

Orford and Dugan ran lightly at training yesterday but Canberra coach David Furner is reluctant to risk them in Friday night's home game against Brisbane unless they are 100 per cent fit.

The Raiders are also likely to be without NSW Origin prop Brett White after he was charged with raising his knee in a tackle that left Cronulla halfback Albert Kelly heavily concussed.

The Knights yesterday lost hooker Isaac De Gois for up to a month with a broken thumb.

De Gois, who also suffered heatstroke in the sweltering conditions at Penrith on Sunday, joins star recruit Neville Costigan on the sidelines after he had a plate inserted in the right forearm he broke during the 42-8 win. Captain Kurt Gidley is also in doubt for Saturday night's trip to North Queensland due a back problem.

Cowboys back-rower Scott Bolton is another round-one casualty, and will miss up to six weeks with a torn calf sustained in Friday night's gritty 16-14 defeat of a Brisbane side missing Test centre Justin Hodges and prop Ben Hannant, who are again in doubt to play against the Raiders on Friday night.

Penrith international Michael Jennings is considered less likely to play against Parramatta on Friday night.

The Panthers cannot use former Eels and Waratahs centre Timana Tahu to replace Jennings even if they finalise a one-year incentive deal with him as the NRL will not register the contract until he resolves a racial vilification dispute arising from an Aboriginal tournament last year.

[Danny]

Looks to have escaped the knife. 4-6 week rehab and he should be back for the tigers.

Wests Tigers backrower Liam Fulton is out for up to six weeks with a shoulder injury

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Scans on Wednesday revealed that Fulton has a sub-luxed left shoulder and the Tigers' expect him to miss between four to six weeks.

There was some good news for Fulton with confirmation he would not require surgery.

Touted as title contenders after a promising 2010 and with a roster brimming with representative talent, the Tigers looked below par in their 24-14 loss to the Bulldogs.

The Tigers host the Warriors at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night and welcome back fiery prop Bryce Gibbs.

[Danny]

1202: NEWS - GIDS BACKS OUT

Newcastle Knights have lost captain and fullback Kurt Gidley for their clash with North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday night.

Gidley suffered back spasms in the Knights' big win over Penrith and there was a question mark over his fitness all week.

Shannon McDonnell will take the custodian's place and Gidley is expected to return in round three. Email your thoughts on the Knights without Gidley.

Be sure to sub Kurt Gidley out of your Fantasy NRL squad before the Friday deadline.

See our injury list for all the latest updates:

http://www.injuryupdate.com.au/nrl.php

[Danny]

Luke signs four-year extension but Inglis in doubt for Bulldogs clash
Glenn Jackson
March 18, 2011
SMH

SOUTH SYDNEY officials were yesterday celebrating the long-term signing of hooker Issac Luke - who brokered the deal with the club despite a dispute with his management - but cursing the short-term health of their recent superstar signing, Greg Inglis, who is in doubt to face Canterbury on Sunday due to an adductor injury.

Inglis suffered the injury on Tuesday during a wrestling session and failed to fully train yesterday. Coach John Lang said Inglis was a chance of joining another of the club's stars, forward Sam Burgess, on the sideline.

''He's not a certainty, but we're confident he'll be right,'' Lang said. ''We'll make the decision on Saturday. But he's very confident and he seems to be a pretty good judge on those things.
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''He's very confident he's right, Errol [Alcott, the Rabbitohs' director of athletic performance] is quietly confident. He strained it on Tuesday, so if he trained [yesterday] he'd be likely to stir it up. Errol wants to give him the four days' rest before he runs, so we think he'll be right.'' The fact that Inglis is unlikely to train until tomorrow, though, will be causing some concern for a player who is still finding his way with his new team.

''Not getting the running's the biggest thing,'' Lang said. ''But ? GI's the sort of bloke that you could go and throw in a team that he's never seen before. He's got that feel for the game. He's done enough and he'd fitted in really well. I'm just hopeful he'll be right to play.''

Luke, meanwhile, has re-signed until the end of 2015, extending his current deal by four years. A dispute with his management team of Gavin and Chris Orr had held up the finalisation of the contract. In the end, Luke bypassed his managers to broker the deal himself, which shows the Rabbitohs' - and the player's - eagerness to stitch up a deal.

''He has done the deal himself,'' Souths chief executive Shane Richardson said.

■ Wests Tigers have reportedly struck a deal to re-sign Australian international centre Chris Lawrence. It is believed the new five-year contract will be worth $1.7 million.

[TomCree]

Scans on Wednesday revealed that Fulton has a sub-luxed left shoulder and the Tigers' expect him to miss between four to six weeks.

There was some good news for Fulton with confirmation he would not require surgery.

Touted as title contenders after a promising 2010 and with a roster brimming with representative talent, the Tigers looked below par in their 24-14 loss to the Bulldogs.

The Tigers host the Warriors at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night and welcome back fiery prop Bryce Gibbs.