Vodafone Warriors hooker Thomas Leuluai needs season-ending surgery after scans today confirmed he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee early in Saturday’s 10th-round NRL clash against Parramatta.
The 29-year-old veteran was helped off the field 23 minutes into the encounter after the Vodafone Warriors had also lost the equally experienced Ryan Hoffman with concussion in just the third minute.
Leuluai is the third player in the NRL squad to have his 2015 campaign ended by an ACL injury. He joins Ben Henry and Ngani Laumape who have both had knee reconstruction operations. The Vodafone Warriors also lost three players with ACL injuries in 2013 – Henry, Sione Lousi and Steve Rapira.
Hoffman, who wasn’t able to return to the field on Saturday, is following concussion protocols.
Manu Vatuvei (sternum) and Sam Tomkins (knee) are both on target to play in the Vodafone Warriors’ next match against Newcastle at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday, May 31 (4.00pm kick-off; match day sponsor: TNT). It’s the club’s first home game in five weeks.
A total of seven outside backs were unavailable for last weekend’s round – Vatuvei, Tomkins, Laumape, Konrad Hurrell (suspended), David Fusitu’a (groin), Glen Fisiiahi (knee) and Matt Allwood (ankle).
Along with Vatuvei and Tomkins, Fisiiahi and Fusitu’a are also possibilities to be available for round 12 following this week’s bye.
NRL REHAB ROOM
Matt Allwood (ankle) | Round 14-15
Glen Fisiiahi (knee) | Round 12-13
David Fusitu’a (groin) | Round 12-13
Ben Henry (knee) | Season
Ryan Hoffman (concussion) | Monitored
Konrad Hurrell (suspended) | Round 14
Ngani Laumape (knee) | Season
Thomas Leuluai (knee) | Season
Sam Tomkins (knee) | Round 12
Manu Vatuvei (sternum) | Round 12
BUY TICKETS | VODAFONE WARRIORS v NEWCASTLE, MAY 31
