The Knights have been handed a nightmare injury problem, with Kalyn Ponga leaving the field in the second half against the Bulldogs before being put in a moon boot.
The superstar fullback was clearly struggling to carry the ball, reportedly due to a pair of injuries according to Fox League’s Matt Russell.
He revealed Ponga had been battling the hip pointer injury he sustained in Round 6 but also was dealing with a fresh foot issue.
“Kalyn Ponga forced from the field... some rumblings out of Newcastle is that he might have picked up a foot injury,” Russell said.
Tyson Gamble replaced Ponga at fullback, with Pheonix Crossland joining Jackson Hastings in the halves.
It was later revealed Ponga was placed in a moon boot, confirming he’d suffered an injury to his foot.
HORROR RAIDERS BLOW
In what is potentially a huge blow for the Raiders, there are fears star halfback Jamal Fogarty has suffered a ruptured bicep.
Fogarty sustained the injury in the first half and didn’t return in the second forty, seen striking a very dejected figure on the sideline.
Fox League’s James Hooper confirmed the Raiders star has been ruled out of the game, but there are conerns it could be a far more devastating blow for the Green Machine.
“It is yet to be confirmed but there are fears Jamal Fogarty has suffered a ruptured bicep. That would be devastating for the Raiders because he has been an integral part of their fast start,” Hooper said.
Greg Alexander said in commentary that there are different levels in seriousness for bicep injuries, which could see Fogarty play again this season.
“I’ve seen other players from other clubs rupture bicep tendons and some have played on with the rupture,” he said.
DOGS’ FRONT ROW BLOW
Bulldogs prop Chris Patolo suffered an MCL injury in the opening minutes of his side’s clash with the Knights.
He was replaced by teammate Sam Hughes, who scored the first try of the clash moments later.
“He (Patolo) left the field very early... given the way he walked up the tunnel, he might be lucky to return today,” Matt Russell said.
It remains to be seen the severity of Patolo’s injury and how long he could be sidelined for.
SOUTHS RECEIVE GOOD NEWS
The Rabbitohs have received a huge boost with Origin star Jai Arrow set to return for their clash with the Storm in Round 8.
Arrow revealed the positive update to his shoulder injury on Triple M.
“Things are going good, rehab’s been smooth sailing and I’m looking to return next week against Melbourne,” Arrow said on triple M.
“I’m really excited. I’ve been put through tests this week with contact and I got through everything pretty well.
“I’m excited to be out there and play footy again.”
TIGERS STAR SUFFERS SUSPECTED BROKEN FOOT
The Tigers will be sweating on a suspected broken foot to winger Junior Tupou after he limped off in the first half of their clash with the Panthers in Bathurst.
Tupou tried to play on after copping the injury, but eventually succumbed to it just before half-time.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall provided an update on the injury in his post match press conference.
“I think he’s got a broken foot, so that hurt a bit,” Marshall said.
“I think, I dunno, he reckons.”
BRONCOS GUNS SET TO RETURN
It’s good news out of Red Hill, with the Broncos set to welcome back four players from injury next week.
Captain Adam Reynolds, back rower Brendan Piakura, star prop Payne Haas and winger Deine Mariner are in line to return for the Round 8 clash against the Tigers according to coach Kevin Walters.
The Courier Mail’s Pete Badel reported that Haas is “running at training”, indicating he’s recovered quickly from knee surgery.
Piakura is likely to return against the Tigers, but that could be pushed back to the following week when the Broncos take on Vegas foes, the Roosters.
SOUTHS PROP SET FOR LENGTHY STINT
Rabbitohs big man Tevita Tatola will miss up to three months with a broken foot.
The starting prop suffered the injury in the first half of the team’s loss to Cronulla in Round 6, with scans confirming a fifth metatarsal fracture.
Tatola’s injury is just another blow in the long list of setbacks the under siege club has endured this season.
Star fullback Latrell Mitchell is out for two more games through suspension, winger Tyrone Munro has aggravated a previous collarbone injury and will require surgery while veteran Alex Johnston is a few weeks away from returning.
Star centre Campbell Graham will miss most of the season with a sternum injury.
GUN RECRUIT’S INJURY WORSE THAN ANTICIPATED
Raiders back rower Zac Hosking may potentially miss the rest of the NRL season, with the shoulder injury he suffered against the Titans last week worse than initially thought.
Hosking has been one of the Raiders’ best this season, proving a revelation since arriving from the Panthers.
However, his promising season may have cruelly ended with The Daily Telegraph revealing Hosking will miss at least 10-12 weeks after suffering ligament damage when his shoulder dislocated.
The next two weeks are believed to be extremely important for Hosking’s recovery, and more will be known then on just how long Hosking will be on the sideline for, with season-ending surgery likely if the rehab over the next fortnight doesn’t have the desired effect.
INJURED IN ROUND 7
Daejarn Asi (head knock) — TBC
Junior Tupou (broken foot) — TBC
Jamal Fogarty (bicep) — TBC
Chris Patolo (knee) — TBC
Kalyn Ponga (foot) — TBC
FULL CASUALTY WARD
BRONCOS
Adam Reynolds (hamstring) — TBC
Payne Haas (knee) — Round 8-9
Brendan Piakura (ankle) — Round 8-9
Deine Mariner (back) — Round 9
RAIDERS
Corey Horsburgh (groin) — Round 11
Jordan Rapana (knee) — Round 11
Albert Hopoate (arm) — TBC
Eliott Whitehead (calf) — TBC
Corey Harawira-Naera (seizure/medical) — indefinite
Zac Hosking (shoulder) — Indefinite
BULLDOGS
Kurt Mann (hand) — TBC
Jacob Preston (jaw) — Round 9
Ryan Sutton (knee) — Round 12
Blake Wilson (illness) — indefinite
Karl Oloapu (neck) — season
Ryan Sutton (knee) – season
SHARKS
Dale Finucane (facial injury) — Round 8
Royce Hunt (calf) — Round 8
Sione Katoa (suspension) — Round 8
Jesse Colquhoun (foot) — indefinite
DOLPHINS
Tom Flegler (shoulder) — Round 8
Herbie Farnworth (shoulder) — Round 9
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (hamstring) — Round 11
Felise Kaufusi (hamstring) — TBC
Tom Gilbert (knee) — season
TITANS
Keenan Palasia (quad) — Round 7
Jayden Campbell (knee) — Round 11
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (knee) — season
SEA EAGLES
Ben Trbojevic (hamstring) — TBC
Toafofoa Sipley (knee) — TBC
STORM
Sua Fa’alogo (ankle) — Round 8
Tepai Moeroa (back) — Round 8
Tui Kamikamica (calf) — Round 10
KNIGHTS
Tyson Frizell (hamstring) — TBC
COWBOYS
Heilum Luki (ankle) — Round 9
Murray Taulagi (hamstring) — Round 10
Harrison Edwards (head knock/neck) — TBC
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (Achilles) — mid-season
Coen Hess (knee) — season
Zac Laybutt (ACL) — season
EELS
Daejarn Asi (head knock) — TBC
Toni Mataele (hamstring) — Round 11
Mitch Moses (foot) — Round 12
Haze Dunster (foot) — Round 18
Arthur Miller-Stephen (knee) — season
PANTHERS
Nathan Cleary (hamstring) — Round 8-9
RABBITOHS
Jai Arrow (shoulder) — Round 8
Alex Johnston (hamstring) — Round 10
Latrell Mitchell (suspension) — Round 10
Daniel Suluka-Fifita (knee) — Round 12
Tevita Tatola (ankle) — Round 18-20
Campbell Graham (sternum) — Round 20-22
Lachlan Ilias (leg) — TBC
Richard Kennar (knee) — TBC
DRAGONS
Jack Bird (concussion) — Round 8
Corey Allan (knee) — season
ROOSTERS
Sam Walker (head knock) — Round 8
Sandon Smith (elbow) — Round 8
Dom Young (suspension) — Round 8
Spencer Leniu (suspension) — Round 10
Billy Smith (ankle) — TBC
Sitili Tupouniua (head knock) — TBC
WARRIORS
Dylan Walker (ankle) — Round 8
Freddy Lussick (suspension) — Round 10
Bunty Afoa (hamstring) — Round 12
Marata Niukore (foot) — Round 14
Demitric Sifakula (knee) — indefinite
Luke Metcalf (leg) — TBC
TIGERS
Junior Tupou (broken foot) — TBC
Starford To’a (ankle) — Round 11
Adam Doueihi (knee) — Round 17
