NRL injury news: Pre-Season Challenge claims big-name victims

With one more round of the NRL Pre-Season Challenge to go, and the longest premiership season to date approaching, head coaches across the league will be scratching their heads as to how their teams will look in the weeks to come.

Game three of the Pre-Season Challenge saw the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Manly Sea Eagles clash at Gosford. Rabbitohs forward Hame Sele was the first victim of the weekend, leaving the field with what appeared to be a calf injury. Sele’s return to play is yet to be confirmed by the Rabbitohs; however, sources suggest he could be fit for round one.

Sunday began in Geelong with the Melbourne Storm hosting the Roosters, where Storm centre Justin Olam suffered a radial fracture in his left arm. Olam attempted to play through, but it has been confirmed that surgery will be required to insert pins or plates, with the recovery time likely to be six weeks.

Luke Keary was not named to play for the Sydney Roosters on Sunday, having suffered a “knock” in training on Friday. There has been no confirmation as to the severity of the injury, but there are concerns for his health having missed five games of football in 2022 due to concussion issues

The Pre-Season Challenge action then headed north to Moruya, where the Canberra Raiders hosted the Canterbury Bulldogs. Raiders fullback Xavier Savage was involved in several heavy collisions to his head, with one fracturing his jaw. Savage is set for surgery and could miss up to 10 weeks, depending on the nature and position of the fracture.

Savage was not the only player to suffer facial injuries, as Brisbane Broncos recruit Reece Walsh sustained an orbital floor fracture in their trial against the Gold Coast Titans on the Sunshine Coast. The Broncos have confirmed surgery will not be required, and with round one just three weeks away, there are hopes Walsh will be fit to face the Panthers in Penrith.

Round two of the NRL Pre-Season Challenge continues from Friday with nine matches over three days set to decide who will be the winner of the $100,000 prize.

The feature of the weekend will be the return of the World Club Challenge taking place in Penrith between the Panthers and St Helens of the English Super League. The event has been cancelled over the last two years as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

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