Super League injury news with Leigh Leopards dealt double blow before play-offs

The first two games of the Super League play-offs are behind us but there are several players who won’t make the semi-finals due to injury.

Both matches were enthralling encounters as they highlighted that there really is nothing like play-off rugby league. Friday’s match between Salford Red Devils and Leigh Leopards set the tone but Saturday’s game between Warrington and St Helens somehow eclipsed it.

Warrington looked to be in control and cruising to the Super League semi-finals after overturning a halftime deficit to lead 22-16. With St Helens looking blunt, it seemed like the clock would run down but Jon Bennison’s acrobatic effort in the corner and Mark Percival’s superb conversion took the game to golden point.

Cometh the moment, cometh the man and George Williams seized the moment, albeit at the second attempt as he knocked over the game-winning drop goal to send Wire to their first Super League semi-final since 2019.

That match made Friday’s intense affair in which Leigh beat Salford 14-6 look tame but it was far from it. Leigh took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half, in part due to Edwin Ipape’s supreme performance.

Despite booking their first-ever Super League semi-final, injuries were the story of the night for Leigh who now face an incredibly tough task against Wigan Warriors without at least two of their starters.

Super League injury round-up

Leigh Leopards

Starting with Friday night’s game and there really is only one place to start which would be the scary injury sustained by Josh Charnley.

Whilst chasing down a loose ball, the Leigh winger tackled full-back Ryan Brierley but saw his momentum take him over the top and seemingly flip with his neck and head contacting the ground before landing flat on his back.

Both medical teams assessed the winger, who had early scored to go ahead of Danny McGuire into outright second on the Super League try-scoring charts, before he was stretchered off and headed to hospital.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, Charnley provided an update explaining: “I’m on my way home from having the all-clear. Staff at Salford royal was class. Thanks to my medical team for looking after me. Great win.”

Club owner Derek Beaumont had earlier posted on X confirming that the winger would undergo HIA protocols meaning he will be stood down for 12 days and miss the Wigan clash. Second-rower Frankie Halton has suffered the same fate after leaving the field early on, leaving Leigh without two key players.

A positive is that they could have Kai O’Donnell back who didn’t play due to a tear on his kidney. Per Yorkshire Live, the forward has claimed he will be fit to play on Saturday.

Warrington Wolves

As for Saturday’s game, it seemed that Warrington Wolves came through scot-free with Sam Burgess not noting any injuries in his post-match presser despite conceding his side would be fatigued.

Burgess told The Warrington Guardian: “The guys have got to recover big time, we were talking among the staff that we’ll get a read on how the players pull up before deciding how the week looks, but not much will change with the content. We’ll maybe give them an extra day if they need it.”

Players such as Matt Dufty had pulled up at periods in the game with the full-back one of those who has suffered injuries of late. That didn’t stop him from completing the 85-minute slog though so it’s likely that the Australian is fine, particularly considering Burgess didn’t confirm any issue.

Joe Philbin went well on his return to action with Burgess speaking to Sky Sports about the physical nature he brought and it seems that the former England international came through well. It remains doubtful that Lachlan Fitzgibbon will return this season.