The Eels’ outside backs stocks have taken another hit with winger Waqa Blake ruled out “indefinitely”, the club has confirmed.
Blake injured his knee in during Parramatta’s win over the Titans last week and joins Maika Sivo (knee), Sean Russell (ribs) and Haze Dunster (knee) on the sideline.
It means either Hayze Perham, Samuel Loizou or Fijian flyer Solomone Naiduki will be given a crack against the Tigers on Easter Monday.
Zac Cini played a handful games on the wing for Tigers last season but is outside the Eels’ top 30 so would require an exemption to play.
LATRELL OUT FOR EIGHT WEEKS
Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell has been ruled out for eight weeks with a hamstring injury.
Mitchell left the game against the Dragons last week after just 14 minutes.
The club said on Monday that scans revealed the tear was in the tendon and not the muscle, causing a longer recovery time.
Mitchell’s estimated return date is Round 13 when Souths have a bye but the Wednesday after that round is the State of Origin opener on June 8.
It’s highly unlikely Blues coach Brad Fittler would play Mitchell without any games under his belt following a long lay-off.
“He reported feeling a pull or a grab in his hamstring and was unable to finish the game,” Rabbitohs physio Eddie Farah said.
“The MRI scan confirmed what we expected, a definite tear in the hamstring and the tear was located in the tendon rather than the muscle.
“That means his recovery will be a lot slower.”
The club also confirmed Souths veteran Mark Nichols had an operation on his ankle and will be out for eight to 10 weeks.
KNIGHTS CARNAGE
The Newcastle Knights are in a spot of bother with their injury list reaching eight players following their 30-6 loss to the Sea Eagles.
As a direct result Knights coach Adam O’Brien may be forced to name a new halves duo with Adam Clune sidelined after damaging his posterior cruciate ligament.
The 26-year-old has opted not to go under the knife and instead is hoping to play through the pain.
If Clune finds himself ruled out against his former club the Dragons, 21-year-old Phoenix Crossland will be likely to pair up with Jake Clifford in the halves.
Just when matters couldn’t get worse UK import Dominic Young is expected to have a four-to-six week sideline stint after injuring his knee, alongside Jirah Momoisea who is facing up to six weeks out after injuring his elbow.
Both Young and Momoisea came off with injuries during the first half in the Knights’ loss to the Sea Eagles.
The duo are currently awaiting the outcome of their scans with the possibility of surgery.
The Knights now have eight players sidelined with injury and Mitch Barnett unavailable due to suspension.
Jayden Brailey (achilles) - Round 18
David Klemmer (knee) - Round 9
Lachlan Fitzgibbon - (knee) - 6 weeks
Adam Clune - (knee) - 0-2 weeks
Dominic Young - (knee) - 4 to 6 weeks
Jira Momoisea - (elbow) - 1 to 6 weeks
Mitch Barnett - (suspension) - Round 10
Bailey Hodgson - (elbow) - Round 10
Tyson Frizell - (ankle) - 0 to 2 weeks
Origin representative Tyson Frizell is expected to return from his ankle injury early, pushing through the pain during the Knights’ injury crisis.
INJURED IN ROUND 5
Latrell Mitchell (hamstring) - Round 13
Dominic Young (leg) - TBC
Jirah Momoisea (dislocated elbow) - TBC
Martin Taupau (neck) - TBC
Chanel Harris-Tavita (face laceration) - TBC
Adam Reynolds (leg) - TBC
Corey Oates (leg) - TBC
Nat Butcher (concussion) - TBC
Matthew Timoko (back) - TBC
Waqa Blake (knee) - TBC
FULL CASUALTY WARD
BRONCOS
Adam Reynolds (leg) - TBC
Corey Oates (leg) - TBC
Pat Carrigan (knee) - Round 8-10
Albert Kelly (footy - TBC
Jordan Riki (ribs) - Round 5
Brendan Piakura (hamstring) - Round 10
Xavier Willison (knee) - mid-season
RAIDERS
Matthew Timoko (back) - TBC
Hudson Young (toe) - Round 6-7
Jamal Fogarty (knee) - Round 15
Josh Hodgson (knee) - season
Harley Smith-Shields (knee) - season
BULLDOGS
Paul Alamoti (ankle) - Round 6
Matt Doorey (knee) - indefinite
Raymond Faitala-Mariner (foot) - indefinite
Jack Hetherington (shoulder) - season
SHARKS
Matt Ikuvalu (ankle) - TBC
Connor Tracey (head knock) - TBC
Wade Graham (ankle) - Round 6
TITANS
Jayden Campbell (ribs) - TBC
Joe Vuna (knee) - indefinite
Shallin Fuller (leg) - season
SEA EAGLES
Josh Schuster (ankle) - Round 6
Tom Trbojevic (medial tear) - Round 8
Martin Taupau (neck) - TBC
STORM
Tom Eisenhuth (calf) - Round 5
Bronson Garlick (knee) - TBC
Tui Kamikamica (stood down) - indefinite
George Jennings (knee) - season
Christian Welch (Achilles) - season
KNIGHTS
Dominic Young (leg) - TBC
Jirah Momoisea (elbow) - TBC
Hymel Hunt (knee) - Round 6
David Klemmer (knee) - Round 9
Mitchell Barnett (suspension) - Round 10
Bailey Hodgson (elbow) - Round 10
Lachlan Fitzgibbon (knee) - Round 11
Jayden Brailey (Achilles) - Round 18
COWBOYS
Ben Hampton (hamstring) - Round 6
Cohen Hess (shoulder) - Round 6
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (knee) - Round 6-7
Mitchell Dunn (knee) - season
EELS
Waqa Blake (knee) - Round 11-12
Shaun Lane (hamstring) - Round 6
Jake Arthur (appendix) - Round 6
Marata Niukore (calf) - Round 7
Sean Russell (ribs) - indefinite
Maika Sivo (knee) - mid-season
Haze Dunster (knee) - season
Ray Stone (knee) - season
PANTHERS
Brian To’o (knee) - Round 9
Moses Leota (shoulder) - Round 10
RABBITOHS
Mark Nicholls (knee/ankle) - Round 12-14
Latrell Mitchell (hamstring) - Round 13
DRAGONS
Tyrell Fuimaono (suspension) - Round 6
Josh McGuire (suspension) - Round 6
Max Feagai (ankle) - Round 11
ROOSTERS
Nat Butcher (concussion) - TBC
Egan Butcher (foot) - Round 5
Sam Verrills (thumb) - Round 6
WARRIORS
Chanel Harris-Tavita (face laceration) - TBC
Ash Taylor (hip) - Round 6
Viliami Vailea (knee) - Round 6
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (thumb) - Round 8
Tohu Harris (knee) - indefinite
TIGERS
Kelma Tuilagi (shoulder) - TBC
Stefano Utoikamanu (ankle) - TBC
Jackson Hastings (suspension) - Round 6
Adam Doueihi (knee) - indefinite
Asu Kepaoa (pectoral) - indefinite
Tommy Talau (knee) - indefinite
Shawn Blore (ACL) - season
