Teams across the NRL are licking their wounds after a brutal round that saw more than 20 players suffer injuries or head knocks.
Now the Canberra Raiders have confirmed that a pair of stars will be ruled out for an extended period of time in a blow to Ricky Stuart’s Green Machine.
Jordan Rapana has been ruled out for 6-8 weeks, the club confirmed on Tuesday, with the 34-year-old now surgery on a knee meniscus tear – despite returning to the field and seeing out the team’s big win over the Eels.
The Raiders will also lose Corey Horsburgh for 6-8 weeks in a bid to the lock’s hopes of adding to his single State of Origin appearance for Queensland in Game III last year.
Teen fullback Chevy Stewart will make his long-awaited debut as Rapana’s replacement against the Titans this weekend, and now has the chance to lock down the No.1 jumper given the veteran’s extended rehabilition timeframe.
The pair were in a pre-season shootout for the role, with Ricky Stuart eventually opting to shift Rapana into the jersey ahead of the 18-year-old, who is already signed until 2026 (with an option for 2027).
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“This is what our clubs about” | 05:50
COWBOYS LOSE STAR FOR SEASON
The injury carnage finished on Sunday night with Cowboys centre Zac Laybutt suffering a torn ACL with the club confirming on Monday that the promising outside back’s 2024 campaign is over.
The Cowboys beat Gold Coast 35-22 and the Titans also suffered a blow with Kieran Foran injuring his ankle, although the veteran half is optimistic it won’t keep him out too long.
“My ankle got caught under my own player and it was just too painful… hopefully the damage isn’t too bad,” Foran said in the post-game press conference.
“Feels alright now but I just couldn’t get it going and we decided to take the cautious approach with it rather than going out.”
Jayden Campbell, who had only recently returned from a long-term injury, was folded awkwardly in a tackle involving Chad Townsend and Jake Granville. However he was able to play out the remainder of the game for the Titans.
North Queensland’s Griffin Neame also went off with what Todd Payten revealed post-game was a medial issue but the Cowboys coach suggested it was nothing more, describing it as a learning experience.
“He’s tweaked a medial. He’s got through the game OK so physios think he’s going to be no dramas this week and that’s good,” Payten said.
“It’s a learn for him. The difference for him between being hurt and injured and that’s what some of our young guys are still yet to work out. It’s a good lesson for him.”
Read on below for all the injury news Round 5 and updates as they come through.
INJURED IN ROUND 5
Kieran Foran (ankle) — TBC
Zac Laybutt (ACL) — season
Adam Reynolds (hamstring) — TBC
James Tedesco (head knock) — TBC
Sam Walker (head knock) — TBC
Blake Taaffe (head knock) — TBC
Harrison Edwards (head knock/neck) — TBC
Kurt Mann (hand) — TBC
Connor Tracey (calf) — TBC
Lachlan Ilias (leg) — TBC
Reuben Garrick (head knock) — TBC
Liam Henry (head knock) — TBC
Jarome Luai (knee) — TBC
John Bateman (head knock) — TBC
Samuela Fainu (head knock) — TBC
Latu Fainu (hamstring) — TBC
Tom Flegler (shoulder) — TBC
Herbie Farnworth(shoulder) — TBC
Felise Kaufusi (hamstring) — TBC
Corey Horsburgh (groin) — 6-8 weeks
Jordan Rapana (knee) — 6-8 weeks
POSITIVE NEWS AFTER CARNAGE FOR DOLPHINS
It was a horror Saturday night for the Dolphins and Tigers, with five players forced to leave the game injured, including star recruits Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth.
Farnworth will be sidelined for a month but the Dolphins’ scans as a whole came up better than expected.
Farnworth was in a world of hurt after his shoulder was awkwardly caught under Tigers forward Alex Seyfarth.
Farnworth was the second Dolphin forced from the field with a shoulder injury after fellow new recruit Tom Flegler.
Flegler spoke to Fox League after the game with the prop believing the injury is just a “stinger”.
Bennett updates on Dolphins injury toll | 03:29
Earlier in the game, starting back rower Felise Kaufusi’s night ended after 27 minutes when he succumbed to a hamstring injury.
“Herbie does not need surgery so that is a real positive,” said Dolphins’ head of performance, Jeremy Hickmans.
“He is going to need at least four weeks to repair the injury, and with this type of injury that can be potentially longer depending on how he responds to the treatment.
“Flegler though is a chance to play after he reported in better condition to medical staff this morning.
“Felise’s chances of playing will depend largely on how he goes with his rehabilitation this week.”
As for the Tigers, skipper Api Koroisau managed to come back onto the field with about 30 minutes left in the match after going off earlier with a quad concern.
John Bateman and Samuela Fainu both suffered head knocks which were determined to be category one so they’ll be stood down for 11 days.
Rabbitohs playmaker Lachlan Ilias will undergo surgery after fracturing his tibia in sickening incident while playing reserve grade on Saturday.
Ilias, 23, was carried from the field after a shocking tackle in the NSW Cup that saw Warriors hooker Freddy Lussick sent off with a few seconds left on the clock.
Playing reserve grade for the third week in a row, Ilias was putting in a kick near midfield on what would have been the last play of the game when Lussick rushed out of the line to charge it down, but crashed into the halfback’s leg while he was midair.
Ilias was writhing in pain with players from both teams coming together which saw Moala Graham-Taufa sent to the sin bin for throwing a punch.
The South Sydney halfback was helped from the ground by a teammate and a member of the club’s medical staff, with Ilias leaving the field on crutches with his right foot elevated.
Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou went up the tunnel with Ilias who scored the try that put the Bunnies up 26-20 as they held on to beat the Warriors at Accor Stadium, but he now faces a nervous wait to see how long he’ll be out.
Ilias will undergo surgery which could include inserting a plate and screws in his shin bone, according to popular social media account ‘NRL Physio’, and Ilias is likely facing three to six months on the sideline.
Dean Hawkins set to be Souths’ long-term halfback and Demetriou said he expects Lussick to be dealt with by the match review committee.
Horror Ilias injury in reserve grade | 01:01
BRONCOS AVOID DISASTER
Broncos supporters can breathe a collective sigh of relief with the club confirming star halfback Adam Reynolds has only suffered a minor hamstring tear.
Reynolds was captured crying in the dressing room in devastating scenes at halftime after leaving the game in Brisbane’s 34-32 loss to the Storm on Thursday night.
It looked like the 33-year-old’s season could have been over by the way he reacted and the skipper said he “didn’t feel good” after the game. But scans have confirmed Reynolds will only miss a handful of games.
“Adam underwent scans back in Brisbane which revealed a minor hamstring strain – we will see how he pulls up in the coming days before he works into a rehab program,” Broncos head of performance Dave Ballard said.
The scans weren’t as good for winger Deine Mariner who it has been revealed fractured a bone in his back during the match.
“Deine was scanned in Melbourne after the game, showing a transverse process fracture in his back. Players with similar injuries have returned to play within 3-4 weeks so it will be a matter of assessing how quickly Deine recovers,” Ballard said.
Reynolds missed a game earlier in the season with a MCL sprain. Jock Madden looms as his replacement in the halves ahead of the club’s Queensland clash with the Dolphins in Round 6.
Devastated Reynolds cops 1st half injury | 01:07
FIVE FAIL HIA TESTS IN BRUTAL CLASH
The Roosters lost three players to HIA including James Tedesco, while the Bulldogs lost two in a brutal clash at Accor Stadium.
Sam Walker was taken out of the game 18 minutes in with a head knock, which was deemed a category two. Then five minutes later Tedesco was knocked out while attempting to stop a barnstorming Viliame Kikau. The captain’s concussion was ruled to be a category one.
Joseph Suaali’i also went off for a HIA from a head slam, but returned after passing his tests.
Charging Kikau wreaks havoc on Chooks | 00:36
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs lost Blake Taaffe to a failed HIA after Dom Young was sent off for a high shot on the Bulldogs fullback.
And Harrison Edwards was stretchered off after a tackle gone wrong with 18 minutes remaining.
“He is responsive in the changerooms and it has been deemed a category two HIA,” James Hooper said of Edwards on Fox League.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo confirmed in the post-game press conference that the concern was around his neck, rather than a head knock.
Ciraldo also revealed that Bulldogs utility Kurt Mann suffered a broken hand in the win and Connor Tracey picked up a calf strain.
MANLY STAR SUFFERS HEAD KNOCK
The Sea Eagles have been dealt a hammer blow with star centre Reuben Garrick out of their clash against the Panthers due to a category one concussion.
The 26-year-old left the field inside three minutes, reeling out of an attempted tackle on backrower Luke Garner.
Corey Waddell replaced the outside back, with Ben Trbojevic slotting into his place in the centres.
Garrick is now set to miss Manly’s next clash when Anthony Seibold’s side face the Warriors in Auckland.
Meanwhile, the Panthers also were dealt two injury blows with Liam Henry and Jarome Luai leaving the field.
Henry was concussed after a tackle in the first half and was ruled out of the clash, however he will likely be fit to play in the club’s next game after the bye in Round 6.
Luai also departed late in the contest, nursing a knee niggle.
FULL CASUALTY WARD
BRONCOS
Adam Reynolds (hamstring) — TBC
Reece Walsh (facial fracture) — Round 6-7
Payne Haas (knee) — Round 8-9
Brendan Piakura — Round 8-9
RAIDERS
Zac Hosking (concussion) — TBC
Corey Horsburgh (groin) — Round 12 – 14
Corey Harawira-Naera (seizure/medical) — indefinite
Jordan Rapana (knee) Round 12-14
BULLDOGS
Blake Taaffe (head knock) — TBC
Harrison Edwards (head knock/neck) — TBC
Kurt Mann (hand) — TBC
Connor Tracey (calf) — TBC
Josh Addo-Carr (concussion) — Round 6
Jacob Preston (jaw) — Round 8
Karl Oloapu (neck) — season
Ryan Sutton (knee) – season
SHARKS
Dale Finucane (head knock) — Round 6
Royce Hunt (calf) — Round 8
Toby Rudolf (ankle) — Round 8
Braden Hamlin-Uele (knee) — TBC
Jesse Colquhoun (foot) — indefinite
DOLPHINS
Connelly Lemuelu (knee) — Round 6
Tom Gilbert (knee) — season
TITANS
Kieran Foran (ankle) — TBC
Keenan Palasia (quad) — TBC
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (knee) — season
SEA EAGLES
Matt Lodge (knee) — Round 6
Jason Saab (hamstring) — Round 7
STORM
Sua Fa’alogo (ankle) — Round 6
Joe Chan (hand) — Round 6
KNIGHTS
Tyson Frizell (hamstring) — TBC
COWBOYS
Heilum Luki (ankle) — Round 9
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (Achilles) — mid-season
Coen Hess (knee) — season
Zac Laybutt (ACL) — season
EELS
Arthur Miller-Stephen (knee) — season
PANTHERS
James Fisher-Harris (shoulder) — Round 5
Liam Martin (shoulder) — Round 5
Nathan Cleary (hamstring) — Round 7-8
Scott Sorensen (knee) — Round 7-8
RABBITOHS
Jai Arrow (shoulder) — Round 8
Tyrone Munro — Round 8
Alex Johnston (hamstring) — Round 10
Campbell Graham (sternum) — Round 20-22
Lachlan Ilias (leg) — TBC
DRAGONS
Corey Allan (knee) — season
ROOSTERS
James Tedesco (head knock) — TBC
Sam Walker (head knock) — TBC
Sandon Smith (elbow) — TBC
Billy Smith (ankle) — TBC
Spencer Leniu (suspension) — Round 10
WARRIORS
Luke Metcalf (leg) — TBC
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (hamstring/back) — Round 5
Taine Tuaupiki (head knock) — Round 5
Edward Kosi (hand) — Round 5
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (hamstring) — Round 6
Marata Niukore (foot) — Round 14
Demitric Sifakula (knee) — indefinite
TIGERS
John Bateman (head knock) — TBC
Samuela Fainu (head knock) — TBC
Sione Fainu (foot) — Round 5
Jake Simpkin (concussion) — Round 5
Starford To’a (ankle) — Round 11
Adam Doueihi (knee) — Round 17