The Brisbane Broncos have confirmed prop Matt Lodge will likely be unavailable for the next fortnight after limping off during their 24-16 loss to the Parramatta Eels.
Lodge pulled up sore after trying to take a hit-up, forced to immediately come from the field after just 18 minutes.
“I don’t have hamstrings so I don’t know much about them, I’m not tall enough, but we’ll look at him tomorrow and he’d have to be in extreme doubt for next week as well," coach Kevin Walters said on Lodge after the match.
The club confirmed whilst Lodge will go for scans on Saturday, they believe he has suffered a low-grade hamstring strain, which would sideline him for next week's derby against the Gold Coast Titans.
"Our assessment shows Lodgey has a low grade hamstring strain but we will have that confirmed by the scan later today - he would miss 1-2 weeks if that was the case," said Broncos Head Of Performance Andrew Croll.
Initial assessment from the Broncos suggests a low grade hamstring strain for Matt Lodge. If scans confirm usual return to play 2-4 weeks, tough to return ~7 days later with high reinjury risk. Best case for Lodge looking like around 3 pic.twitter.com/MgUUXG13Dr
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 13, 2021
Lodge will join fellow front-rower Payne Haas on the sidelines, who was suspended for the opening three games of the season after his arrest.
Despite this, they have received some welcome news, with Xavier Coates and John Asiata cleared of serious injury.
As always valuable clarification from Broncos CMO Dr Matt Hislop. No concussion for Xavier Coates, so won’t enter concussion protocol unless delayed concussion symptoms present. Neck soreness & any nerve symptoms will be assessed in coming days https://t.co/4AAolvHAag
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 13, 2021
Coates (neck) and Asiata (shoulder) were both taken to hospital before full-time, leaving the Broncos with just one player on the bench for the final 20 minutes.
"Xavier still has a sore neck but his scan was clear and he has improved today," Croll added.
"John Asiata also received a clear scan but is still experiencing some neck soreness.
"Both Xavier and John will be assessed in the coming days to determine if they will be available to play - but player welfare will be paramount in any decision made."
In his Broncos debut, Walters was refusing to blame the trio of injuries for their defeat, conceding they needed to learn to play with adversity.
"We’ve got to learn to play with adversity, certainly having three injured is not ideal but that’s what I feel really proud about our guys just hanging in there,” Walters said post-match.
“We seemed to be dipping down and then all of a sudden they found something, and that’s what we want from them.
“And they fought their way back into the game, a couple of opportunities we didn’t quite grab, if we grabbed them we might be sitting here with a different scoreline."
