NRL injury update: The latest on James Roberts, Nathan Brown and Tyson Frizell

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NRL injury update: The latest on James Roberts, Nathan Brown and Tyson Frizell image

With the NRL season underway, injuries both major and minor are bound to pop up.

Here's the latest updates from club doctors, high performance managers and freelance physios.

Note: As new information comes in this will be updated.

TYSON FRIZELL INJURY UPDATE

Tyson Frizell was left writhing in pain after an attempted tackle on Cowboys fullback Jordan Kahu in Saturday night's 24-12 loss to the Cowboys. Scans revealed a ruptured testicle, with Frizell having immediate surgery in Townsville.

"Expect him to spend four to six weeks on the sideline," the NRL Medico said. "However, there are examples of players returning earlier - such as Kurt Capewell last year - and wearing protective guarding. Not so sure about that one for the family's sake."

JAMES ROBERTS INJURY UPDATE

The Broncos believe James Roberts’ back pain was due to a disc issue, & he was still in considerable pain post game. Hopefully no disc herniation & is just an acute irritation. How he pulls up in the next 48 hrs very important.

"James had a rather severe back spasm and was unable to continue," said Broncos' Manager of High Performance Paul Devlin.

"We will wait until it has settled down and then will be able to check whether there has been any structural damage."


According to the NRL Medico, Broncos doctors initially diagnosed inflammation of a lumbar intervertebral disc. "If there was no strucutal damage, expect Roberts to spend 1-3 weeks on the sidelines," NRL Medico said.

TOM EISENHUTH INJURY UPDATE

Storm forward Tom Eisenhuth was taken to hospital On Thursday night after receiving an accidental elbow to the throat in the final stages of the NRL clash with Brisbane, according to Storm medical staff.

He was having breathing difficulties post-game.


On Monday, Storm staff announced Eisenhuth has undergone surgery on a fractured larynx and will be out of the game for an indefinite period.

“Tom has shown us plenty of resilience and determination since he joined us midway through last year and we know he will bounce back, but it will take some time," Storm general manager – football Frank Ponissi said.

DANIEL SAIFITI INJURY UPDATE

A suspected MCL sprain for Saifiti, with the Knights' big man's condition likely to be revealed on Monday.

In Nathan Brown's post-match presser, he revealed that Saifiti will have a scan on Saturday - though the extent of the injury is unknown by club doctors.


"If the MCL is injured in isolation, a general rule of thumb may be: Grade 1; 1-3 weeks, Grade 2; 3-6 weeks, Grade 3; 6 weeks +," the NRL Medico said. 

“D Saf caught some nasty friendly fire and got taken out lower body,” Knights head of physical performance, Balin Cupples said on Monday.

“He’s copped a minor grade MCL strain and a minor mid-foot strain as well.

“We’re looking at that 2 - 4-week mark.

“We’re hoping it’ll be at that lower end, 2 - 3-week return.

“It’s a small little hurdle for him but we will get him back bigger and stronger.”

NATHAN BROWN INJURY UPDATE

Initial fears Nathan Brown could miss the entire season with a torn pec have been allayed, with Eels coach Brad Arthur hoping to see his hitman back mid-season.

The aggressive backrower lasted less than 20 minutes before reeling out of a tackle in pain.

"He's not good. I think it's his pec and that's three months (out)," Arthur reported.

“Early indications are that he’s done a complete pectoral rupture, which will almost certainly require surgery,” the NRL Medico said.

“This was once a season-ending injury, but these days injury rates have been brought down and 10-14 weeks on the sideline could be a guideline.”

TOM TRBOJEVIC INJURY UPDATE

Tom Turbo is on the comeback trail after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring injury during the pre-season.

The Sea Eagles sorely missed Trbojevic in Saturday's 20-6 defeat to the Robbie Farah inspired Wests Tigers at a rain-soaked Leichhardt Oval.

Journeyman Brendan Elliot had an outing to forget in 'Turbo's' No.1 jumper but Hasler was taking a long-term view after the loss.

"Realistically I don't think Tom will be back until Round 4 but even so I thought the people that we had in there in tonight were very good," Des Hasler said in the post-match press conference.

"This is quite a conservative approach due to the high recurrence rate of hamstring strains," the NRL Medico said.

"The obvious danger for Tom - returning too early - is reaggravating the injury at a higher grade, requiring longer time spent on the sidelines, with flow on effects for acceleration, top speed and, ultimately, his confidence for the season ahead."

HAME SELE INJURY UPDATE

UPDATE: Positive scan results suggest Panthers forward Hame Sele avoided major injury in the defeat against Parramatta at Panthers Stadium on Sunday, a Panthers release on Monday said.

The 22-year-old exited the game with a suspected arm fracture but the initial scans on Monday have ruled out a break to the bone.

Sele's training load will be monitored this week and the club is hopeful he will be available to face Newcastle Knights on Saturday.

EARLIER: Sele's much-anticipated Panthers debut lasted just 19 minutes, with a suspected broken left forearm.

"Initial diagnosis throughout the game, we thought he might've fractured his arm. But they're hopeful that it may not be," Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said during the post-match press conference.

"We might've have to go on scans for that one. But it was a decent injury."

TYRONE ROBERTS INJURY UPDATE

Tyrone Roberts underwent scans on Monday on the achilles injury suffered in Sunday's loss to Raiders at Cbus Super Stadium.

The scans revealed a strain, with the pivot likely to be ruled out for two to three weeks.

ASH TAYLOR INJURY NEWS

Taylor will miss the trip to Shark Park with a quad injury.

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