After the conclusion of round 14, we’re officially past the halfway stage in Super League this season and unfortunately, yet more injury issues have piled up.
Round 14 saw Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves pull clear atop the table as the pair moved to 22 points with their respective victories over Toulouse Olympique and St Helens.
That loss for Saints meant that they slipped to sixth place, though they’re level on points with third-place Hull KR, who beat York Knights. Meanwhile, fourth beat fifth as Wigan hammered Wakefield leaving all four club sat from third to sixth on a total of 18 points.
Leigh Leopards are the side applying the pressure as their victory moved them to within two points of the play-offs, whilst a win for Catalans over Castleford ensured they remain within touching distance. The round’s other game saw Hull FC see off bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield Giants with the Black and Whites one of several sides to pick up injury concerns.
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Super League round 14 injures
The major injury sustained this week came in the first game as St Helens’ Jonny Lomax broke his jaw against Warrington, something that the veteran has since had surgery on and could well rule him out for the rest of the season.
Given Lomax’s off-contract status, that could well spell the end of his playing career though Paul Rowley insisted that the club’s focus is on ensuring Lomax is looked after as best as possible.
Also in that game, Warrington’s Zack Gardner dislocated his shoulder on his seasonal debut in a big blow for the young centre.
Friday night saw Toulouse’s Henry O’Kane stretchered off with seemed to be a neck issue after a tackle with treatment for the Australian creating a lengthy delay in the loss to Leeds Rhinos.
Hull KR lost Oliver Gildart to a failed HIA meaning the centre won’t play against Leigh Leopards, whilst Mikey Lewis also picked up an ankle knock but played on.
On the other side of the city, Aidan Sezer was subbed late on with a tight groin whilst Lloyd Kemp was noted to have a tight hamstring. Their opponents Huddersfield lost Joe Greenwood to an Achilles injury, which could spell a lengthy spell on the sidelines depending on the severity.
Hull FC’s upcoming opponents, Wakefield Trinity, lost Jayden Myers to a shoulder injury but they were also without several key players as head coach Daryl Powell revealed an eight-week timeline for outside back Oli Pratt, whilst Mason Lino could miss five to six weeks with a calf injury.
Sunday’s game also saw injury issues as Bradford Bulls lost Eribe Doro to an automatic HIA fail because the prop was not wearing an instrumented mouthguard. Kurt Haggerty also confirmed that both Dan Russell (neck) and Caleb Aekins (abductor) were struggling. As for Leigh, both Lachlan Lam and Josh Charnley wound up with gashes on their lower limbs, presumably through the studs of other players, with Charnley confirming that he would be stitched up.
Warrington Wolves
Super League switch looms as Warrington Wolves half-back exits club
