Newcastle Knights confirm captain will need surgery on serious leg injury

Newcastle Knights have released a statement acknowledging the serious injury to captain Jayden Brailey.

The club wrote in a statement: “Scans have confirmed nib Newcastle Knights Captain, Jayden Brailey, has suffered a ruptured achilles tendon in his left leg, during a non-contact team training session last Saturday.

“Brailey will undergo surgery later this week to repair the injury and determine his rehabilitation timeline, with hopes of a return to play in the second half of the 2022 season.

“The Newcastle Knights would like to thank everyone for their well wishes and support for Jayden, who we know will tackle his recovery with the same professionalism and tenacity he applies to his football.”

The blow means that back-up hooker Chris Randall is likely to become Newcastle’s starting number 9 with Adam Clune also being in Knights head coach Adam O’Brien’s reckoning following Brailey’s confirmed absence.

The Knights open their 2022 NRL campaign away to the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground on March 12, but they will have to do it without their main man.