NRL 2024, Injuries, suspension, return dates, casualty ward and key information for the 2024 NRL Telstra Premiership season

NRL Casualty Ward: Sea Eagles, Cowboys activate 18th man after first half injury blows

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 27 Jul 2024, 09:01 PM

Manly lost backs Reuben Garrick and Jason Saab after first half head knocks, while the Cowboys suffered a first half double blow after losing Test forwards Jason Taumalolo and Reuben Cotter.

The Sea Eagles activated 18th man Clayton Faulolo at halftime after Garrick was deemed a Category One HIA in the 29th minute and Saab failed his HIA following a high tackle from Sydney Roosters centre Michael Jennings.

Manly prop Josh Aloiai played on with a shin injury sustained in the opening tackle of the match.

The Cowboys also suffered a first-half double blow after losing Tongan superstar Jason Taumalolo and Kangaroos forward Reuben Cotter in the first half of Saturday's match against Cronulla.

Taumalolo was forced from the field with a suspected fractured cheekbone, while Cotter was deemed a Category 1 head knock and ruled out the remainder of the match after a collision with Sharks centre Jesse Ramien.

With Taumalolo and Cotter ruled out due to head injuries, the Cowboys were able to activate 18th man Jake Granville.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten said Taumalolo had gone to hospital to determine the extent of his cheekbone injury.

Broncos centre Deine Mariner was assisted from the field during Saturday's loss to the Bulldogs with a knee injury but coach Kevin Walters said it wasn't too serious.

The Wests Tigers 28-16 loss to the Warriors has come at a cost, with four players at risk of missing next week's game.

The visitors finished the match without a healthy player on the bench. Winger Luke Laulilii left the field early in the second half for a head injury assessment and was later ruled out for the match.

Starford To'a suffered a hamstring injury that coach Benji Marshall fears could lead to an extended stint on the sidelines. Lachlan Galvin and Isaiah Papali'i also failed to finish the match.

Marshall was unable to give an update on what the exact injuries are but said they are in doubt for next week's clash with the Cowboys.

Papali'i was playing his first match since he suffered an ankle injury in Round 12.

For the Warriors, Jackson Ford suffered a knee injury, with the exact severity still to be determined.

The Cowboys and Sharks each lost a damaging forward after a pair of late changes prior to Saturday's clash between the two sides.

North Queensland back-rower Heilum Luki missed the game with a hamstring strain after failing to prove his fitness at training on Friday. In positive news, winger Murray Taulagi was cleared to return from a hamstring injury suffered in Round 18.

Cronulla forward Royce Hunt did not travel with the team to Townsville due to illness, with 29-year-old Jayden Berrell set to make his long-awaited debut off the bench. Hunt is recovering and a chance of playing reserve grade this weekend.

Eels star Mitchell Moses has undergone surgery on a biceps rupture and will commence rehabilitation with an aim to return to training in the 2025 pre-season.

The halfback suffered the injury during his series-winning performance for NSW in the State of Origin decider in Brisbane.

The Eels have also lost promising youngster Charlie Guymer (ankle) and forward leader Junior Paulo (foot) for the remainder of the season.

Meanwhile, Manly youngster Lehi Hopoate is facing 4-6 weeks on the sideline with a facial fracture.

He suffered the injury in a tackle in the 12th minute at 4 Pines Park on Sunday and swelling built up in the eye as the first half progressed before it was almost completely closed over.

The Panthers will be without fullback Dylan Edwards for 2-4 weeks after he suffered a knee injury during Origin Three while winger Paul Alamoti has undergone surgery on a broken arm but is expected to be back before the end of the season.

Warriors captain Tohu Harris has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery for a chronic wrist injury.

The veteran forward has been carrying the issue for most of the year, missing four games in the middle of the team's campaign before returning to the field.

The Dolphins have meanwhile announced the Euan Aitken will miss the remainder of the season after surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle.

"The surgery went very well and it generally has a recovery time of three to four months," Dolphins head of performance Jeremy Hickmans said.

"With that time frame it seems unlikely that Euan will play for the Dolphins again this year."

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