York Knights have suffered a “massive blow” with a star player set for around four weeks on the casualty list.
Samoan full-back Toa Mata’afa suffered a dislocated elbow during York’s 26-14 home loss to Wakefield Trinity last Friday.
Knights lost winger Ben Jones-Bishop to a foot injury in the same game and centre Sam Wood with a dislocated finger.
In addition, half-back Danny Richardson missed the match after damaging a quad muscle in the final training session.
Speaking about Mata’afa at his weekly preview press conference today (Wednesday), coach Mark Applegarth insisted the injury is a setback, but “could have been worse”.
He said: “It is all aligned and there’s no break, which is a positive. There’s obviously some ligament and other damage, as you’d expect.
“My own rough estimate, knowing Toa and from what we’ve been told, I’d say about four weeks.
“Obviously it’s a massive blow for us in terms of he has probably been one of the stand-out players, a real performer for us.
“I am gutted for him personally because I know he had really attacked this per-season and wanted to excel, which he is doing and I am sure he will when he’s back, but it’s a great opportunity form someone else to showcase their talents and show everyone what they’re about.”
Jones-Bishop and Richardson are both in doubt for Saturday’s visit to Huddersfield Giants and Wood has been ruled out.
“It is settling down,” Applegarth said of Jones-Bishop. “It’s still not fully where we need it so he will be touch and go for Saturday.
“There’s some pretty bad bruising and a really nasty cut on top of his foot so we’re just seeing how that settles down.
“Danny’s also touch and go. He has done a bit of light training today, but you don’t want to train him too hard and make it worse.
“Sam got a compound dislocation. He has had it cleaned out and he’s in a cast, I believe, for a week to let that settle down, then he should be good to go. He is a pretty tough cookie so I don’t envisage that being longer than a week or two.”
With Liam Harris also on the casualty list, Paul McShane shifted into the halves last week after Richardson was ruled out.
Play-maker Will Roberts joined York from St Helens in pre-season and has been featuring in the Championship for Newcastle Thunder, but is not in their initial squad to face Goole Vikings on Friday.
Applegarth declined to say if he’ll play for York instead, but stressed: “I have watched him play for a number of years, including when he was on loan at Widnes last year.
“He has a really calm head and I think we’ve got a top half-back there. If we do end up playing Will, there’s no doubt in our heads he will make the step up to Super League. He’s a fantastic player and a fantastic kid.”
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