One rugby league side have confirmed five new injuries following their pre-season friendly clash a fortnight ago.
League One hopefuls Keighley Cougars have released a ‘Medical Room’ injury update that has seen the club confirm five new injuries and provide updates on a further two players who were already sidelines.
Keighley travelled to Odsal to face Bradford Bulls in the first key rugby league game on these shores since the end-of-season internationals with the clash between the local rivals serving as the first pre-season game ahead of the 2025 campaign.
It was a match that the Championship outfit won with ease as they cruised to a 26-0 win over their local rivals and it’s now been revealed to be a match in which Keighley picked up several injuries.
Former Super League man Jake Webster is the current coach at the Cougars having finished his playing career there before ascending into a Director of Rugby role. However, with no head coach appointed after the exit of Matt Foster, Webster has stepped up.
He’ll have to start the club’s Challenge Cup campaign in just over a fortnight’s time with a number of players sidelined though – as revealed in their injury update.
League One club Keighley Cougars confirm five new injuries after friendly
Of the five players to sustain injuries in the game against Bradford Bulls, three had head-related injuries. The club’s statement confirms that Elliott Cousins has recovered from his concussion and will be available to play in the friendly against Newcastle Thunder.
Meanwhile, Billy Walkley and Brad Holroyd who had HIA’s in that game passed the “relevant tests before leaving the stadium”.
Full-back Brandon Pickersgill was suspected to have fractured his finger but X-rays have confirmed that is not the case meaning he will be back for the second round of the Challenge Cup when Keighley take on York Knights.
Josh Lynam did undergo an operation on his finger and is “expected to only miss a couple of weeks of pre-season”.
The club also had outstanding injuries and those players will miss time with Aaron Brown scheduled for a hernia operation on January 14th, whilst Harry Bowes is still recovering from a minor calf injury.
Valu Tane Bentley will face a further six weeks out before being considered to play as he recovers from wrist surgery.
