With Magic Weekend complete it means there are just five weeks left of the Super League season but injury issues are rife currently and could play a major part in teams making or missing the playoffs.
The weekend’s results will also play a major role in deciding who makes or misses out on the top six with the three teams placed in fourth, fifth and sixth all losing, allowing ground to be gained by those playoff hopefuls.
Leeds Rhinos failed to do that as they lost to Warrington Wolves who kept the pressure on both Wigan Warriors and Hull KR with Wire defeating Brad Arthur’s side 24-6 in the final game of day one.
Day one had been kicked off with a big result at the opposite end of the table as London Broncos drew level with Hull FC courtesy of a 29-4 victory, prompting yet more questions over IMG and the fact London will be relegated regardless of where they finish.
It was just another miserable day in a miserable season for Hull FC who picked up two injuries and two more suspensions, stretching their thread-bare squad even thinner.
The other game on day one saw Wigan Warriors defeat St Helens 20-0 with Matt Peet’s side inspired by Jack Farrimond, however, both sides suffered injuries to key forwards.
Day two saw Leigh Leopards apply the pressure on the top six as they beat Salford 26-0 to draw within three points of the playoffs before Hull KR returned to the top of Super League with a 36-4 win over a sorry Catalans side. Magic Weekend was rounded off by Huddersfield solidifying their grip on ninth with a 20-12 win over Castleford Tigers.
Super League injury news after Magic Weekend
Credit: Imago Images
Starting with the first game of the weekend and Hull FC’s season gets worse with news that Jack Walker appears to have torn his bicep which will end his Super League season, whilst there was yet another injury for centre Carlos Tuimavave who Simon Grix explained had trapped a nerve.
London’s impressive centre Jared Bassett limped off early on with a quad issue also but the biggest Super League injury news of the round came ahead of the Wigan Warriors and St Helens game with skipper Liam Farrell pulling out in the warm-up.
Farrell suffered a calf injury and had to be replaced by Sam Walters who would score his first Wigan try, but Farrell could be a major miss depending on the severity of the issue. Saints also lost a key forward to a calf issue as Curtis Sironen had to leave the field and have his leg heavily strapped.
Man of Steel favourite Matt Dufty managed to score a hattrick despite hobbling on one leg for much of the second half and he could well miss the game against Castleford Tigers on Friday. One man who will definitely miss this weekend’s game is Sam Stone after failing a HIA against Leigh, whilst Oliver Gildart did the same against Catalans.
Catalans weren’t just big losers on the scoreboard but they also saw three players leave the field with Matt Ikuvalu‘s season looking over a reported pec tear, Jed Wallace suffered a knee injury and Franck Maria went down with a shoulder blow.
They’ll face Leeds Rhinos on Friday night in a very banged-up state.
Super League Injury Issues
– Jack Walker (Hull FC) – Bicep
– Carlos Tuimavave (Hull FC) – Trapped Nerve
– Jared Bassett (London Broncos) – Quad
– Curtis Sironen (St Helens) – Calf
– Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors) – Calf
– Matty Dufty (Warrington Wolves) – Leg
– Sam Stone (Salford Red Devils) – Failed HIA
– Matt Ikuvalu (Catalans Dragons) – Pec
– Jed Wallace (Catalans Dragons) – Knee
– Oliver Gildart (Hull KR) – Failed HIA
– Franck Maria (Catalans Dragons) – Shoulder
Catalans Dragons
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