The latest injury news is in from round eight of Super League, with a number of clubs picking up new bumps and bruises, some more serious than others.
Round eight saw St Helens, Hull KR, Leeds Rhinos and more pick up victories, but they didn’t come without their drawbacks as sides across Super League suffered blows of varying extent.
Starting with that Saints win, they defeated Hull FC on Thursday evening in what would be John Cartwright’s final game in charge of the Black and Whites.
Paul Rowley’s side took the two points, but they also suffered a failed HIA, with Deon Cross needing to leave the field in the first half. The centre didn’t return to the action, and after failing it means he will need to sit out of this week’s game agaisnt Wakefield Trinity.
FC meanwhile suffered a bigger blow with Sam Lisone said to have torn his bicep. The former Leeds man is the latest Hull forward to pick up an injury, with the club already having John Asiata and Herman Ese’ese in the treatment room.
Matty Laidlaw also picked up a dead leg in that game, though his issue is said to be nothing serious, per Cartwright.
The early fixture on Friday saw the Rovers emerge victorious against Toulouse Olympique, but they didn’t come through that game unscathed. Oliver Gildart is KR’s main concern as it stands. The centre picked up an ankle knock and didn’t complete the game, whilst Willie Peters confirmed post-match that “there’s a few other bumps and bruises [within the squad], but I think everyone is looking okay. We’ll have to check up on them.”
Huddersfield Giants suffered two blows with Taane Milne automatically failing a HIA for not wearing a protective mouthguard. The Fijian was hit late by fellow countryman Maika Sivo, someone who could be looking at a disciplinary charge later today.
Returning outside back Sam Halsall lasted just 15 minutes in his first game back. The former Wigan man looks to have suffered a calf injury, which is a separate issue to the one that has kept him sidelined for the opening part of 2025.
Leigh Leopards will be hoping that Edwin Ipape will be good to go for this week’s tie with the Giants. The PNG hooker lasted just 30 minutes against York, and probably shouldn’t have featured at all according to Adrian Lam. The 27-year-old is dealing with a shoulder issue at the minute, and is a doubt for round nine.
Prop Robbie Mulhern was a late withdrawal from the Leopards’ side. Lam confirmed post-match that he couldn’t risk the former Hull KR man this week, and it was a decision that turned out to be the right call.
Moving on to Saturday’s games, Bradford Bulls suffered a hefty 52-12 defeat to Wakefield Trinity, but to make matters worse they have also lost up to three more players.
Joe Mellor, Super League’s top tackler and the Bulls’ captain, left the field in the second half, forcing a reshuffle of players in key positions. Mellor has picked up a knee injury, though no timescale has been revealed as yet.
Esan Marsters was another who went down injured, with the Cook Islands international hobbling off the field in the opening 40. Kurt Haggerty revealed post-match that Marsters has “popped his calf”, but again no timescale has been given.
Finally, back-rower Dan Russell made his first appearance since round one. The PNG man picked up a knee injury in that opening round defeat to Hull FC, but he has now suffered a knock to his opposite knee, with the former Warrington and Salford’s man poor luck with injuries continuing.
Speaking of Warrington, they could have two forwards missing this week with both Toafofoa Sipley and James Harrison currently in doubt.
Sipley is said to have a knee issue, whilst Harrison has an ankle problem. Losing both of those players would be a big blow to Sam Burgess’ side, who face Wigan Warriors at home on Friday night.
The Warriors themselves have a number of injury concerns, but their latest is prop Ethan Havard. The England international has a calf issue, and didn’t feature in the defeat to Castleford Tigers.
