NRL 2026, Injuries, suspension, return dates, casualty ward and key information for the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership season

With pre-season training in full swing and clubs building towards the start of the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge on February 7, we run the rule across all 17 teams to see how they are tracking on the injury front.

Which players are on track to return after off-season surgery and which players are facing a delayed start to their 2026 campaign?

The Cowboys are set to be without forwards Jeremiah Nanai and Griffin Neame for their trip to Las Vegas to face the Knights as they recover from surgery.

Nanai injured his shoulder playing for Samoa against Tonga XIII at Suncorp Stadium and scans revealed the 22-year-old would need a shoulder reconstruction. 

Coach Todd Payten said in late December that Nanai was set to miss the first 4-6 weeks of the new season.

Neame picked up his injury in August and underwent a shoulder reconstruction later that month. He endured a setback early in his recovery when he suffered an infection but is now an outside chance for Round 1.

In better news for the Cowboys, winger Murray Taulagi is expected to return to full training immediately after the Christmas break after picking up a knee injury during the Pacific Championships final.

At the Dolphins, outside back Jack Bostock could return to the field as early as Round 8 as he takes the next step in his recovery from a serious knee injury. 

The 22-year-old injured his ACL, MCL and meniscus in Round 16 and underwent surgery to repair the damage. 

Bostock has now commenced running and is eyeing a return in late April or early May if the rehab process remains on track. 

Fellow Dolphins Jeremy Marshall-King and Francis Molo are expected to be fit for Round 1 after picking up injuries during the Pacific Championships.

Marshall-King broke his thumb while representing New Zealand agajnst Toa Samoa while Molo fractured his eye socket in his final game for Samoa. 

Captain Tom Gilbert (shoulder) is tracking well and is confident he will rejoin the squad in time for the first-up clash against the Rabbitohs while prop Daniel Saifiti is also pushing hard towards a Round 1 comeback after a shoulder injury in Round 8 which ended his 2025 campaign.

The Knights have received a huge boost with superstar Kalyn Ponga returning to full training in the new year as he sets his sights on the club’s historic season opener against the Cowboys in Las Vegas.

Ponga has been taking part in a modified training program as he progresses steadily through his rehab from a Lisfranc injury suffered in June.

To view the complete NRL Casualty Ward, please visit the hub page.

Your club’s NRL Casualty Ward

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Eels | Cowboys | Panthers | Rabbitohs
Dragons | Roosters | Warriors | Wests Tigers

Chemist Warehouse Casualty Ward
Brisbane Broncos

Canberra Raiders

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Cronulla Sharks

Dolphins

Gold Coast Titans

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Melbourne Storm

Newcastle Knights

North Queensland Cowboys

Parramatta Eels

Penrith Panthers

St George Illawarra Dragons

Sydney Roosters

Warriors

Wests Tigers