A full Super League injury run-down after St Helens, Bradford Bulls and more clubs suffer blows in round one

The 2026 Super League season is officially underway, but despite an overall positive weekend, some clubs were dealt some nasty injury blows.

Jack Welsby is arguably the biggest name to have picked up a knock in round one, with the St Helens star dislocating his shoulder in defeat to Warrington Wolves.

Bradford Bulls also had a double blow, whilst the likes of Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants have hefty injury lists, despite the season only just beginning.

Serious About Rugby League have gone through each side and listed the members of each club’s current medical room ahead of round two.

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A full Super League injury update ahead of round one

Bradford Bulls:

Jayden Nikorima will miss the next month after picking up a calf injury prior to the season opener. Ethan Ryan also suffered a rib injury in the Cup win over London, though the extent of that is to be confirmed and he could feature this week against Catalans.

Following their defeat to Hull FC, the Bulls lost more bodies. Jayden Okunbor and Dan Russell both had to leave the field, whilst Andy Ackers also picked up a dead leg – though he should be back this weekend.

Commenting on the other two injuries from Saturday, boss Kurt Haggery said: “They both look pretty serious. I’ll know more tomorrow. The physios are pretty concerned with both of them.”

Castleford Tigers: 

Zac Cini and Semi Valemei are both nursing soft tissue injuries, and the former NRL pair will be monitored on a week-to-week basis. The club also confirmed that fellow three-quarter Louis Senior picked up a syndesmosis injury in the pre-season defeat to St Helens, and will be out for the foreseeable future.

Brock Greacen missed the defeat to Wigan Warriors after picking up a training injury, but he declared to the home crowd at half-time that he should be back for the trip to Toulouse. Blake Taaffe ended the game with a knee injury, but managed to see out the full 80 minutes. Boss Ryan Carr believes he should be fine for the weekend.

Catalans Dragons:

New recruit Manase Kaho will miss the entire Super League season after suffering an ACL injury in the warm-up fixture against Toulouse Olympique. Back rower Franck Maria will miss the next three months after suffering a herniated disc.

Huddersfield Giants:

Boss Luke Robinson revealed at the Super League media launch that both Niall Evalds and Adam Clune were simply rested for the club’s Cup tie against Hunslet, but both failed to make the 17 against Catalans Dragons.

Adam Swift was named in the 21-man squad, but didn’t make the squad on Friday evening. Luke Robinson confirmed that both he and Liam Sutcliffe went down with a hamstring injury on Monday, and will be “out for an extended period”.

Joe Greenwood rolled his ankle in the defeat, but no time frame has been given at this stage.

Hull FC:

Jake Arthur missed the club’s win over Bradford Bulls, after picking up a knock in the Challenge Cup win over Salford. Speaking after the Bulls game, head coach John Cartwright said: “It was a little tweak in his hammy towards the end of the Salford game. It just didn’t respond and it wasn’t worth the risk. It’s only short-term so really hopeful for next week.”

The half-back added to an already sizeable injury list at Hull, with the club’s forward pack being struck with injury. Herman Ese’ese revealed earlier this week he was hoping to be back for the Good Friday derby against Hull KR, whilst John Asiata could be back in the side as early as this month. Though, the club won’t want to rush him back too soon after he has been out with a hamstring tear since August.

James Bell will also be touch and go over the next few weeks, after the ex-St Helens man picked up a knee injury during a training session in December.

Jed Cartwright should be back this week, though, after the back rower was knocked out in the opening minute of the Cup win against Salford. He subsequently failed a HIA, but  pending he passes the current protocols, he will return to the side for the trip to Wigan.

Hull KR:

Following the pre-match press conference ahead of the World Club Challenge, Willie Peters confirmed that he had a near-full squad to choose from this week.

Jordan Dezaria will be unavailable for the battle with Brisbane, after the French recruit suffered a hamstring injury prior to the season opener. Lee Kershaw remains the only other absentee, as he continues to recover from an ACL injury in June.

Tom Amone and Dean Hadley look set to be back in the side this week, after recovering from their respective injuries. If selected, Thursday’s game would be Amone’s debut for the club.

Leeds Rhinos:

The Rhinos have one of the biggest casualty lists at this stage, and their squad became even more depleted during their Challenge Cup win over Widnes Vikings.

Mikolaj Oledzki picked up a rib injury, and his timeline for return will be determined on a week-to-week basis, with the best news being a fortnight, and the worst being up to six week.

Cameron Smith also suffered a groin injury, and he wasn’t risked against Leigh, whilst Keenan Palasia was close to returning and Jeremiah Mata’utia wasn’t far off making his Super League debut.

Jake Connor missed round one, and is also a doubt for rounds two and three, too. He suffered a knock in training, and Rhinos fans will be hoping he makes it back in time for their trip to Vegas at the end of the month.

Ash Handley will likely miss round two against York, but Maika Sivo could make his long-awaited Rhinos debut, after recovering from an ACL injury he picked up in January 2025.

Adding to an already busy medical room, the club’s long-term absentees include Alfie Edgell (thigh, late April) and Max Simpson (ACL, out for season).

Leigh Leopards:

Umyla Hanley missed the season opener, after picking up an A/C sprain in the Challenge Cup. He will again be a doubt this weekend.

David Armstrong, who suffered a set-back in his ACL recovery and will now return to the side at about round eight, should he stay on track.

Aaron Pene will be hoping to return this week after suffering a hamstring injury in pre-season. Adrian Lam is hopeful that his overseas forward will be available this week, if not, then round three is his target.

Isaac Liu was missing from the victory over Leeds. His current state is currently unknown, but it is certainly a big miss when the skipper is not in the side.

St Helens:

The club’s injury concerns may be few, but they are to some key players that will be huge blows to the Red Vee. Matty Lees took a nasty tackle in the Cup win over Workington that led to him limping off the field and not returning.

The England international is set to be out for around 12 weeks, with his return coming around early May.

Jack Welsby is also on the sidelines, after the full-back dislocated his shoulder in defeat to Warrington Wolves. Whilst there is no return date placed on him yet, Paul Rowley hinted that he is look at a similar time frame to that of Lees.

Toulouse Olympique:

Whilst the French side came away from the Wakefield victory injury-free, the club do have a couple of long-term injury casualties that are awaiting their return – including hooker Calum Gahan. The Australian has been missing since March with an Achilles injury. He is hoping to return around May.

Wakefield Trinity:

England international Tom Johnstone is still a few weeks away from returning, after having surgery on his knee post-Ashes. Oliver Pratt and Ky Rodwell both missed round one, but coach Daryl Powell expects them to be back in contention this week against Huddersfield.

Warrington Wolves:

Matty Ashton will be looking to return in the coming weeks, as he makes his full recovery from an ACL tear. The England international will be hoping for a big season, especially with a place at the World Cup at stake in October.

Aaron Lindop and Oli Leyland remain out with the same issue as Ashton, whilst James Bentley missed the victory over St Helens after suffering a knock in the Challenge Cup game the previous week.

Wigan Warriors:

Oliver Wilson is out for the full 2026 season after an Achilles tear in training, whilst Abbas Miski joins him in the medical room. The Lebanese international went under the knife to repair a torn hamstring following the Grand Final defeat to Hull KR.

York Knights:

Forward Kieran Hudson picked up a knee injury in the Challenge Cup win over Barrow, and is still recovering, though Mark Applegarth hopes the former Castleford man won’t be out for too long.

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