Super League

Super League Injuries: Leeds, St Helens and Wigan dealt blows

by
Ollie Mitchell
April 22, 2024

A number of sides across Super League were dealt injury problems in Round Eight, including Wigan Warriors and St Helens.

St Helens’ Lewis Dodd was withdrawn before a 58-0 victory over Hull FC with a groin injury., and head coach Paul Wellens said: “Daryl Clark and Lewis Dodd miss out today, they’ve been carrying niggles for a few weeks.

“This game, with it being a short turnaround, has just come a little bit too soon.”

Meanwhile, when it rains, it pours for Castleford Tigers, whose injury problems have been exacerbated, as Charbel Tasipale suffered what looked to be a nasty knee injury early on in their game against Wigan Warriors.

The Lebanese international left the field after just seven minutes, and head coach Craig Lingard said after the game: “He’s got his knee in a brace, so he’ll be going for a scan.”

Their opponents, Wigan, were left worrying about star Adam Keighran, who went off the field with strapping around his leg.

However, head coach Matt Peet said there wasn’t too much to worry about: “Adam is okay. If Zach [Eckersley] wasn’t on the bench, he would have been good to play on.”

Leeds Rhinos, as well as losing at home to Huddersfield Giants, have a duo of fresh injury concerns from the weekend.

Leeds Rhinos Matt Ikuvalu tackled by Huddersfield's Luke Yates in Super League action.

Credit: Imago Images

David Fusitu’a had just returned from injury, after a surgery in the off-season, but his try-scoring cameo may be the last we see of him for a while, as head coach Rohan Smith revealed: [Fusitu’a] has got a knee injury.

“It’s a different knee injury on the other leg.

“I feel really sad for him, really heartbroken.”

Centre Harry Newman was also forced off the field with a back injury, which Smith detailed: “Newman got hit in the back very early.

“He battled through with back spasms but he just wasn’t able to keep going.”

Warrington survived a scare to narrowly defeat Leigh Leopards, but Connor Wrench suffered an ankle injury and was forced off at half-time.

Wrench missed much of last season with an ACL injury, but head coach Sam Burgess is convinced this one isn’t too bad:

“I don’t think it’s anything drastic. It’s nothing that’s going to take him out for a long period of time.”

Finally, Catalans Dragons’ huge victory over Hull KR could have been slightly tarnished by a head injury to Matt Ikuvalu, who left the field for an HIA, but he seems to be okay for upcoming Super League fixtures.