NRL Casualty Ward: Ankle blow for Arthars; Matterson back on deck

Broncos winger Jesse Arthars will be racing the clock to be part of the club’s Pre-Season Challenge campaign after spraining his ankle at training on Wednesday.

An MRI on his left ankle confirmed the injury, with Broncos head of performance Dave Ballard saying the aim will now be to have him fit and firing for the February 18 pre-season clash with the Cowboys in Mackay.

Meanwhile Eels forward Ryan Matterson has resumed full training after overcoming the quad injury he sustained during training prior to Christmas.

The 29-year-old is the first on a long list of players Parramatta expect to welcome back in coming weeks, with fellow forward Wiremu Greig (foot) on track for a late January return and Clint Gutherson (knee), Junior Paulo (toe), Makahesi Makatoa (pectoral) and Daejarn Asi (finger) all progressing well.

Manly star Tom Trbojevic has declared himself fully fit and ready for Round 1 in Las Vegas.

The 27-year-old played just 11 games last season after a torn pectoral in Origin II ended another NRL campaign prematurely.

“A pec is about a three month injury so I’ve had plenty of time for that to recover and I’m in a really good mental space now and training really hard,” Trbojevic said.

“Coming into pre-season I was basically ready to go so it’s been a really good five or six weeks. I’m fully fit. Contact and everything has all been cleared so I’m good to go.”

Titans forward David Fifita has undergone surgery after suffering a pectoral muscle injury. The club confirmed in a statement that the 23-year-old back-rower sustained a partial tear during pre-season training.

Casualty Ward By Club

The Maroons representative will aim to return for the start of the 2024 season after completing his rehab over the coming weeks.

Bulldogs recruit Connor Tracey suffered a leg injury in his final training session with the Sharks and will be unable to train with his new teammates until mid-January, after suffering the injury before his switch of clubs was finalised.

Young gun Karl Oloapu is yet to decide whether to undergo surgery for a neck injury that has placed his immediate playing future in doubt. Oloapu made his NRL debut for Canterbury last season but there is uncertainty about when the 18-year-old will play his next game after being told he requires surgery for a bulging disc.

Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan has returned to training after overcoming an earlier broken thumb and ankle injury.

English international Kai Pearce-Paul is underwent surgery on a toe injury he has been managing for more than 12 months before moving to Newcastle. Knights officials confirmed that after reviews by their medical and performance team it was decided that surgery was the best course of action for the 22-year-old forward.

Brisbane Broncos
Jesse Arthars (ankle, Pre-Season Challenge)
Jordan Riki (shoulder, Round 1)
Canberra Raiders
Corey Horsburgh (suspended, early rounds of 2024)
Seb Kris (suspended, early rounds of 2024)
Corey Harawira-Naera (seizure/medical, indefinite)
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Karl Oloapu (neck, indefinite)
Cronulla Sharks
Nil.

Dolphins
Connelly Lemuelu (knee, Pre-Season Challenge)
Ray Stone (toe, Pre-Season Challenge)
Gold Coast Titans
David Fifita (pectoral, Round 1)
Jojo Fifita (ankle, Round 1)
Erin Clark (shoulder, Round 1)
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Matt Lodge (knee, TBC)
Christian Tuipulotu (knee, Round 1)
Josh Aloiai (shoulder, Round 1)
Karl Lawton (shoulder, Round 1)
Melbourne Storm
Justin Olam (knee, pre-season)
Ryan Papenhuyzen (ankle, Round 1)
Alec MacDonald (hamstring, Round 1)
Newcastle Knights
Kai Pearce-Paul (toe, pre-season)
Krystian Mapapalangi (shoulder, pre-season)
Phoenix Crossland (knee, Round 1)
North Queensland Cowboys
Tom Chester (knee, Round 1)
Parramatta Eels
Wiremu Greig (foot, pre-season)
Makahesi Makatoa (pectoral, Round 1)
Clint Gutherson (knee, Round 1)
Junior Paulo (toe, Round 1)
Daejarn Asi (finger, Round 1)
Arthur Miller-Stephen (knee, 2025)
Penrith Panthers
Sunia Turuva (calf, pre-season)
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Jack Wighton (suspended, early rounds of 2024)
St George Illawarra Dragons
Cody Ramsey (illness, indefinite)
Talatau Amone (stood down, indefinite)
Sydney Roosters
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (suspended, early rounds of 2024)
Warriors
Demitric Sifakula (knee, indefinite)
Wests Tigers
Adam Doueihi (knee, indefinite)

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