NRL 2023 Rd 1 injury report & judiciary news
Round one of the 2023 NRL season provided some incredible moments, but it also had some low points and controversy mixed in. Here is all the injury and judiciary news to come out of the opening week’s games.
NRL R1 injury news
Thursday night football between the Eels and Storm brought about one of the more eye-watering moments in recent memory as Cameron Munster suffered a compound dislocation of a finger in a tackle. Strapping and a pain-killing injection was all he required to take the field again, but the star five-eighth flew back to Melbourne early for surgery and is expected to sit out until round four.
Also on Thursday, Storm winger Xavier Coates suffered a shoulder injury (SC joint) and is expected to miss the next two weeks.
Friday night football began with the Knights and Warriors, where both Tyson Frizell and Kalyn Ponga were removed from the field for head injury assessments (HIA). Ponga passed and will be available for selection in round two, while Frizell failed with a return date yet to be set.
The head knocks continued in Penrith on Friday night with Panthers forward Scott Sorensen sustaining a Category 1 hit. Sorenson will need to pass concussion protocols to be available for round two.
Super Saturday football was free from injury until the South Sydney Rabbitohs travelled to Cronulla to take on the Sharks, where Latrell Mitchell reportedly sustained a PCL injury when taking a run from dummy half. The superstar fullback will be monitored, with Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou informing the media that his No.1 is expected to be available for Thursday against the Panthers.
Sunday afternoon football kicked off with the Dolphins hosting the Roosters, who suffered a number of injuries during their loss.
Starting forwards Victor Radley and Matt Lodge both failed their HIAs, while hooker Brandon Smith was removed from the field for the same reason before passing his test.
To compound issues, Lodge has reportedly suffered a depressed facial fracture on the left-hand side of his face. The Roosters enforcer will require surgery and could be looking at up to six weeks on the sidelines.
The final game of round one for the 2023 NRL season was hosted by the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval, where the Titans recorded their first win of the season. The win came at a price for the away side, with Kieran Foran leaving the field in the second half with a knee injury.
The injury raises enormous concerns around the Gold Coast’s star recruit, who has struggled with fitness in the past. Head coach Justin Holbrook has indicated the injury is more likely to be a PCL injury than an ACL.
Meanwhile, the Tigers lost star junior Shawn Blore to a failed HIA inside the first 20 minutes. Blore was making his return to the NRL having suffered a ruptured ACL last year, while Brent Naden (knee) and Tommy Talau (leg cramps) also struggled late in the game.
NRL R1 judiciary news
Storm back-rower Eliesa Katoa was charged with Grade 1 dangerous contact in the fourth minute against the Eels and is expected to pay a fine of $1000-$1500.
Knights forward Adam Elliot hit Warriors utility Dylan Walker in the 56th minute of their clash. Elliott hit Walker late with his shoulder and will be forced to pay between $1000-$1500.
Raiders winger Jordan Rapana was charged with a Grade 1 shoulder charge for his hit on Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater. Rapana’s plea will determine whether he spends three weeks or four on the sidelines.
Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt was caught in the middle of multiple melees before hitting Raiders forward Corey Harawira-Naera. Charged with a Grade 1 careless high tackle, Feldt will pay between $1000-$1500 depending on his plea.
In the poorest display of discipline throughout the weekend, Sharks forwards Briton Nikora, Braden Hamlin-Uele and Wade Graham were all charged for incidents occurring throughout the match.
Nikora has been hit with a Grade 1 shoulder charge for his late hit on Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray, which could see him sidelined for three matches with a $3000 fine.
Hamlin-Uele was placed on report minutes later for hitting five-eighth Cody Walker high, attracting a Grade 1 careless high tackle charge which could see him pay a fine between $1800-$2500.
Arguably the most reckless incident of the weekend came mere seconds later for the Sharks when veteran forward Graham made an atrocious attempt to tackle Rabbitohs forward Davy Moale.
Although missed initially by the on-field referees, a bunker review saw Graham placed on report for a Grade 1 reckless high tackle where both feet left the ground and no real attempt was made by the defender to wrap his arms around the ball carrier.
Graham’s plea will determine whether he misses three matches or four, with the forward being considered lucky he was not sent off.
