NRL Pre-Season Injury Woes: Storm and Rabbitohs Face Significant Setbacks
As the National Rugby League (NRL) season looms, two prominent clubs, the Melbourne Storm and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, are grappling with a series of concerning injury blows that threaten to derail their early campaigns. The Storm have confirmed that forward Shawn Blore will miss their opening round clash, while the Rabbitohs are facing the potential loss of star rake Brandon Smith for an extended period.
Storm’s Growing Injury List
The Melbourne Storm have been dealt another significant injury blow with the news that Shawn Blore is set to be sidelined for their NRL opener. Blore has been struggling with an ankle injury that has hampered his pre-season preparations, ruling him out of all trial matches.
Melbourne CEO Frank Ponissi confirmed on SEN radio that Blore will not be available for their Round 1 encounter against the Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park next Thursday night. While the club hopes for his return by Round 2 or 3, his absence is a blow for veteran coach Craig Bellamy, who is aiming to maintain his impressive unbeaten Round 1 record with the Storm.
This latest setback adds to an already extensive injury list for the Storm. Key winger Xavier Coates is expected to be sidelined for at least two months following Achilles surgery. Furthermore, the club has already lost Kiwi back-rower Eli Katoa for the entire season after he underwent brain surgery last year.
The Storm’s roster depth has also been tested by departures. Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, and Jonah Pezet were released after last season, and Grant Anderson has since joined the Brisbane Broncos. This leaves opportunities opening up in the backline for players like Moses Leo, Marion Seve, and young talent Hugo Peel. In the back-row, Joe Chan and Ativalu Lisati are likely to benefit from the absence of established stars.
Rabbitohs’ Injury Curse Deepens
Meanwhile, the South Sydney Rabbitohs are also facing a worrying injury crisis, with star player Brandon Smith revealing that a calf complaint could be serious enough to sideline him for months. Smith, a former Kiwi Test hooker, underwent scans on the injury and expressed his concern that it “could be serious” during an interview on Triple M radio.
The NRL Physio noted on X that while the severity is yet to be confirmed, a moderate to severe calf injury could necessitate a recovery period of one to two months. This would be a devastating blow for Smith, who has already had a challenging start to his Rabbitohs career. He managed only five appearances last year due to a long-term ACL injury.
Despite his injury concerns, Smith had impressed in the starting dummy-half role during the Rabbitohs’ commanding pre-season victory over Manly last Sunday. Reports suggested he had secured the starting hooker position for Wayne Bennett’s side ahead of Peter Mamouzelos. With Smith now likely out, Mamouzelos is expected to step into the No. 9 jersey.
This ongoing injury curse at the Rabbitohs has been described by coach Wayne Bennett as one of the worst he has witnessed in his decades of coaching. The club is already without Jamie Humphreys due to suspension and backup halfback Jonah Glover, who is recovering from a broken jaw, for their NRL season opener against the Dolphins on March 8. The Rabbitohs may even need to seek special exemption from the NRL to include NSW Cup halfback Ashton Ward in their top-30 roster to ensure he is available for Round 1. The club’s injury woes highlight the unpredictable nature of the pre-season and the challenges teams face in building momentum heading into the competitive NRL season.
