‘Carnage’ as Newcastle Knights risk losing key quartet to injury

Newcastle Knights fear that four key first team players could miss upcoming matches after injuries marred their 22-13 defeat to St George Illawarra Dragons. 

NRL winner Mitchell Pearce left the field with a recurrence of a pectoral injury, while Tex Hoy (hamstring) and Kurt Mann (concussion) were also forced off.

It left the Knights without their full-back and both halves for the entirety of the second half.

Front-rower David Klemmer also suffered a minor knee injury after the break but was forced to play through the pain.

Coach Adam O’Brien admitted post-match that Pearce’s injury ‘didn’t look good’. There are fears the 30-year-old, who suffered a similar season-ending injury back in 2018, could be set for a lengthy spell out of action.  

“He [Pearce] will have scans but it’s the same one [left pectoral] he has done previously. It’s not looking good at all. 

“Tex went at half-time and Kurt went straight after, so we lost seven, six and one all pretty much at half-time. 

“Klem will need to have scans tomorrow. He jammed up his knee but he had to stay out there [because] we only had one on the bench in the second half. 

“This is pretty much carnage for us.”

The Knights are next in action on Saturday when they travel to face Gold Coast Titans.