Super League Injury News: Challengers suffer huge blow to star

Super League Round Seven concluded on Saturday night with the epic clash between Catalans Dragons and St Helens with the French side’s win taking them to the top of the table.

That game was shown as part of Sky Sports’ ‘Big Weekend’ and was also broadcast on BBC Three, something that RL Commercial’s Rhodri Jones had spoken about in reference to the success of Super League so far in 2024.

Catalans edged that 14-8 but the round had started with Wigan Warriors putting on a show against local rivals Leigh Leopards as Matt Peet’s side ran in eight tries by eight different scorers to win 40-12.

Friday night saw a first win for Castleford Tigers as Innes Senior’s four-try haul propelled Cas to a 36-24 victory, leaving London Broncos as the only winless side in Super League following their 50-10 defeat to Hull KR.

That game saw Ryan Hall edge one try closer to the all-time Super League record on the night that his former club Leeds Rhinos lost for a third time in a row at home.

Sam Burgess’ Warrington landed a 34-8 victory to cement their status as contenders this season with the match highlight being Matty Ashton’s incredible chase-down try-saver on Ash Handley, an early contender for the tackle of the season.

Saturday concluded with Catalans beating Saints but before that, there was another Hull FC hammering with Huddersfield Giants defeating Tony Smith’s side 56-22 with the ten-try rout being kicked off by ex-Hull FC man Adam Swift who scored the first of his three after just 55 seconds.

Four sides will now get a well-earned rest whilst the remainder head into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, but a number will be carrying injury concerns.

Super League Injury Concerns

In and amongst the brilliant action were several injury concerns with Friday night’s game at Headingley playing host to two concerning issues. Leeds Rhinos saw two players sent to hospital after the match, Tom Holroyd following a failed HIA and Ash Handley who left the field with a rib injury.

Friday night also saw Castleford lose plenty of players with co-captain Paul McShane pulling up in the warm-up with a hamstring injury before they lost Liam Watts to a HIA.

Craig Lingard confirmed Josh Simm had his arm in a sling and would head to hospital post-match whilst Hoe Westerman also had calf issues in the final fifteen minutes of the game, leaving Cas with a whopping 15 of their 31 players with some form of injury designation.

Hull FC’s clash with Huddersfield saw ex-Black and White Adam Swift leave the field dazed with what Ian Watson confirmed as blurred vision but opponents Hull FC seemed to avoid any injury issues.

The concluding game of the round saw Tom Johnstone leave the field with what appeared to be a concussion as the winger was left lying prone following head-on-head contact with teammate Tariq Sims.

Earlier in the game Jordan Abdull had pulled up with a hamstring injury.

Tom Holroyd (Leeds Rhinos) – Head
Ash Handley (Leeds Rhinos) – Ribs
Paul McShane (Castleford Tigers) – Hamstring
Liam Watts (Castleford Tigers) – Head
Josh Simm (Castleford Tigers) – Arm
Joe Westerman (Castleford Tigers) – Calf
Adam Swift (Huddersfield Giants) -Head/Eye
Tom Johnstone (Catalans Dragons) -Head
Jordan Abdull (Catalans Dragons) – Hamstring

A comprehensive list of all the Super League injury issues can be found here.