{"id":211348,"date":"2026-01-01T09:17:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T09:17:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/211348\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T09:17:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T09:17:07","slug":"nrl-2026-injuries-suspension-return-dates-casualty-ward-and-key-information-for-the-2026-nrl-telstra-premiership-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/211348\/","title":{"rendered":"NRL 2026, Injuries, suspension, return dates, casualty ward and key information for the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership season"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Which players are on track to return after off-season surgery and which players are facing a delayed start to their 2026 campaign?<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Coach Todd Payten said in late December that Nanai was set to miss the first 4-6 weeks of the new season.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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\u00a0Pacific Championships final.<\/p>\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 22-year-old injured his ACL, MCL and meniscus in Round 16 and underwent surgery to repair the damage.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Bostock has now commenced running and is eyeing a return in late April or early May if the rehab process remains on track.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Fellow Dolphins Jeremy Marshall-King and Francis Molo are expected to be fit for Round 1 after picking up injuries during the Pacific Championships.<\/p>\n<p>Marshall-King broke his thumb while representing New Zealand agajnst Toa Samoa while Molo fractured his eye socket in his final game for Samoa.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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&#8217;s historic season opener against the Cowboys in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n<p>Ponga has been taking part in\u00a0a modified training program as he progresses steadily through his rehab from a Lisfranc injury suffered in June.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To view the complete NRL Casualty Ward, please\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">visit the hub page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Your club&#8217;s NRL Casualty Ward<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500011\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Broncos<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500013\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Raiders<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500010\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bulldogs<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500028\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sharks<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500723\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Dolphins<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500004\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Titans<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500002\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sea Eagles<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500021\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Storm<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500003\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Knights<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500031\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Eels<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500012\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cowboys\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500014\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Panthers<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500005\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rabbitohs<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500022\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dragons<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500001\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Roosters<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500032\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Warriors<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrl.com\/casualty-ward\/?competition=111&amp;team=500023\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Wests Tigers<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Chemist Warehouse Casualty Ward<br \/>\n<a id=\"Broncos\"\/>Brisbane Broncos<\/p>\n<p>Adam Reynolds (calf, 2026)<br \/>\nBilly Walters (ACL, 2026)<br \/>\nHayze Perham (ACL, 2026)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Raiders\"\/>Canberra Raiders<\/p>\n<p>Corey Horsburgh (collarbone, pre-season training)<br \/>\nSeb Kris (calf, 2026)<br \/>\nXavier Savage (shoulder, 2026)<br \/>\nCorey Harawira-Naera (seizure\/medical, indefinite)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Bulldogs\"\/>Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs<\/p>\n<p>Jethro Rinakama (shoulder, 2026)<br \/>\nMarcelo Montoya (ankle, 2026)<br \/>\nStephen Crichton (ankle, 2026)<br \/>\nEnari Tuala (leg, 2026)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Sharks\"\/>Cronulla Sharks<\/p>\n<p>Tom Hazelton (concussion, 2026)<br \/>\nOregon Kaufusi (concussion, 2026)<br \/>\nLiam Ison (ACL, 2026)<br \/>\nKade Dykes (knee, 2026)<br \/>\nCameron McInnes (ACL, 2026)<br \/>\nRonaldo Mulitalo (ACL, 2026)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Dolphins\"\/>Dolphins<\/p>\n<p>Jeremy Marshall-King (thumb, Round 1)<br \/>\nFrancis Molo (eye, Round 1)<br \/>\nHamiso Tabuai-Fidow (knee, Round 1)<br \/>\nDaniel Saifiti (shoulder, Round 1)<br \/>\nTom Gilbert (shoulder, Round 1)<br \/>\nConnelly Lemuelu (knee, 2026)<br \/>\nTom Flegler (shoulder, 2026)<br \/>\nMax Plath (knee, 2026)<br \/>\nJack Bostock (knee, 2026)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Titans\"\/>Gold Coast Titans<\/p>\n<p>Phil Sami (groin, 2026)<br \/>\nBrock Gray (ACL, 2026)<br \/>\nJojo Fifita (hamstring, 2026)<br \/>\nJaimin Jolliffe (knee, 2026)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"SeaEagles\"\/>Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles<\/p>\n<p>Tommy Talau (thumb, 2026)<br \/>\nAaron Schoupp (knee, 2026)<br \/>\nReuben Garrick (shoulder, 2026)<br \/>\nTaniela Paseka (Achilles, 2026)<br \/>\nNathan Brown (biceps, 2026)<br \/>\nHaumole Olakau&#8217;atu (shoulder, 2026)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Storm\"\/>Melbourne Storm<\/p>\n<p>Stefano Utoikamanu (concussion, 2026)<br \/>\nXavier Coates (Achilles, 2026)<br \/>\nJack Howarth (groin, 2026)<br \/>\nDean Ieremia (Achilles, 2026)<br \/>\nTrent Loiero (suspended, Round 3)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Knights\"\/>Newcastle Knights<\/p>\n<p>Dom Young (foot, 2026)<br \/>\nAdam Elliott (biceps, 2026)<br \/>\nDylan Lucas (foot, 2026)<br \/>\nKalyn Ponga (foot, pre-season training)<br \/>\nFletcher Sharpe (spleen \/ kidney, 2026)<br \/>\nPaul Bryan (shoulder, 2026)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Cowboys\"\/>North Queensland Cowboys<\/p>\n<p>Coen Hess (suspended, Round 1)<br \/>\nGriffin Neame (shoulder, Round 1-2)<br \/>\nJeremiah Nanai (shoulder, Round 6)<br \/>\nJohn Bateman (ankle, 2026)<br \/>\nHeilum Luki (ACL, 2026)<br \/>\nViliami Vailea (hamstring, 2026)<br \/>\nTom Chester (ACL, 2026)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Eels\"\/>Parramatta Eels<\/p>\n<p>Zac Lomax (abdominal, 2026)<br \/>\nArthur Miller-Stephen (ACL, 2026)<br \/>\nSam Tuivaiti (knee, 2026)<br \/>\nLuca Moretti (calf, 2026)<br \/>\nRichie Penisini (knee, 2026)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Panthers\"\/>Penrith Panthers<\/p>\n<p>South Sydney Rabbitohs<\/p>\n<p>Isaiah Tass (ACL, 2026)<br \/>\nLiam Le Blanc (shoulder, 2026)<br \/>\nCampbell Graham (back, 2026)<br \/>\nTevita Tatola (shoulder, 2026)<br \/>\nJamie Humphreys (suspended, Round 3)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Dragons\"\/>St George Illawarra Dragons<\/p>\n<p>Connor Muhleisen (ACL, 2026)<br \/>\nMichael Molo (ankle, 2026)<br \/>\nChristian Tuipulotu (hamstring, 2026)<br \/>\nMoses Suli (knee, 2026)<br \/>\nValentine Holmes (shoulder, 2026)<br \/>\nToby Couchman (shoulder, 2026)<br \/>\nRyan Couchman (ACL, 2026)<br \/>\nDylan Egan (ACL, 2026)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Roosters\"\/>Sydney Roosters<\/p>\n<p>Rob Toia (foot, 2026)<br \/>\nNat Butcher (knee, 2026)<br \/>\nJake Elliott (shoulder, 2026)<br \/>\nVictor Radley (suspended, Round 6)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Warriors\"\/>Warriors<\/p>\n<p>Jacob Laban (leg, 2026)<br \/>\nAli Leiataua (ankle, 2026)<br \/>\nMitch Barnett (knee, 2026)<br \/>\nRocco Berry (shoulder, 2026)<br \/>\nLuke Metcalf (ACL, 2026)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"WestsTigers\"\/>Wests Tigers<\/p>\n<p>Taylan May (quad, pre-season training)<br \/>\nLatu Fainu (shoulder, 2026)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With pre-season training in full swing and clubs building towards the start of the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge on&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":211349,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[111,139,69,213],"class_list":{"0":"post-211348","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-new-zealand","9":"tag-newzealand","10":"tag-nz","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=211348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211348\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/211349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=211348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=211348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=211348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}