Newcastle Knights face significant injury concerns after Roosters loss
Knights Suffer Multiple Injuries in Close Loss
The Newcastle Knights experienced a challenging night, losing 23-22 to the Sydney Roosters, a match marked by several key injuries to Newcastle players. Coach Justin Holbrook confirmed post-match that the team faced significant injury blows, particularly to Dylan Lucas and Dylan Brown.
Dylan Lucas was stretchered off the field in the first half with a dislocated and fractured ankle. The injury occurred after he took a penalty tap and was brought down, with his left foot bending in an outward direction. Teammates quickly called for trainers and a medicab, indicating the severity of the injury. Lucas was given a green whistle as he was transported to the sheds.
Later in the match, Dylan Brown sustained a knee injury. Brown twisted awkwardly after making a hard step on his left foot before encountering Reece Robson. His knee reportedly gave way under pressure. While the full extent of Brown’s injury is yet to be confirmed, early diagnoses are not positive, with concerns about a potential anterior cruciate ligament injury. This is particularly concerning as Brown had been sidelined earlier in the year with an injury to the same knee.
The Knights were already without Kalyn Ponga due to a leg injury and had dropped Dane Gagai earlier in the week. The team also saw Francis Manuleleua and Tyson Frizell undergo head injury assessments in the second half. Manuleleua’s night ended after catching Egan Butcher’s shoulder, and Frizell was clipped high by Nat Butcher. Both Egan and Nat Butcher were placed on report for their high shots on the Knights duo.
Match Details and Roosters’ Victory
Despite the mounting injuries, the Knights showed resilience. After Lucas’s injury, Mat Croker scored a try, giving Newcastle the lead. Brodie Jones, in only his second NRL game of the season, made a strong run and passed to Phoenix Crossland, who then offloaded to Croker, allowing him to score. The Knights held a 10-6 lead at halftime.
However, the Roosters‘ James Tedesco was a standout performer, scoring a hat-trick. His first try came early in the match, catching the Knights off guard. Tedesco then scored again in the second half, levelling the scores at 10-all. His third try came after a pass from Sam Walker, sending him over the line for his 13th try in his last 11 clashes against the Knights.
The Roosters also faced an injury concern, with Daniel Tupou leaving the field with a suspected shoulder injury after jamming in on Dom Young. Despite this, Billy Smith looked to have secured the win for the Roosters in the 68th minute. However, Bradman Best quickly responded for the Knights, levelling the scores with six minutes remaining.
The decisive moment came in the dying minutes of the game when Daly Cherry-Evans slotted a field goal, sealing a 23-22 victory for the Roosters. This win secured a finals berth for the Roosters and moved them closer to a top-four position. For the Knights, this marks their third consecutive loss and their first loss in six home games.
Coaches’ Reactions and Upcoming Challenges
Knights coach Justin Holbrook expressed his devastation but also pride in his team’s performance given the circumstances. He noted that no alarm bells were being set off despite the team’s growing injury list. Captain Phoenix Crossland echoed these sentiments, stating he was upset but proud of the playing group for fighting until the end against a “pretty much full-strength Roosters team.”
The severity of Brown’s injury is a major concern for the Knights, especially with the team clinging to a spot in the top eight with six weeks remaining until the finals. Brown will undergo scans in the coming days to determine the extent of the damage. The Knights will now face road trips against the Broncos and Raiders in the next fortnight, while the Roosters will travel to face the Cowboys.
In other matches, Melbourne Storm captain Harry Grant suffered a hamstring injury in a 28-26 loss to South Sydney. Storm coach Craig Bellamy indicated uncertainty about the severity of Grant’s injury, hoping to see him return later in the year. Grant is expected to miss at least some of the upcoming games, joining other key players like Cameron Munster and Xavier Coates on the sidelines. The Rabbitohs also lost their hooker, Brandon Smith, to a calf injury during their match.
Read Also
Source: nine.com.au
