Walmsley blow, Wigan sweat on trio & Clark return date – Casualty Ward

Keep up to date with the latest injury news in Casualty Ward, this week including Alex Walmsley, Wigan and Leigh.

Walmsley blow

St Helens prop Alex Walmsley left the field just three minutes in to their 38-0 win over Wakefield on Friday night.

The England international had only taken up one carry when he waved to the sideline and came off.

Speaking after the game, Saints coach Paul Wellens said: “It’s far too early to say for next week (for Alex Walmsley), but I’m never an optimist with hamstring injuries. We’ll see what the scan shows up.”

PODCAST: Alex Walmsley on turning down the NRL & John Kear’s influence

Wigan sweat on trio

Wigan could be without three key players for the Good Friday derby against St Helens.

Star man Jai Field was helped off the field in their 34-6 win at Leigh on Thursday with a hamstring injury. Speaking after the game, coach Matt Peet said he expected to be without the Australian speedster for this week’s game against Saints.

There was no Liam Marshall or Cade Cust against Leigh.

Winger Marshall missed the Leigh game due to a bad stud on his foot which was too swollen to stitch. He remains doubtful for Friday.

And half-back Cust missed the game due a bulging disc in his neck. Peet said the Australian playmaker is ‘going to be out for a bit of time’.

Leigh without duo for Salford clash

The Leopards will be missing two key players in Saturday’s derby match against Salford.

Utility back Gareth O’Brien failed his head injury assessment in Thursday’s defeat to Wigan. The return to play concussion protocol rules him out of this week.

Meanwhile, prop Ben Nakubuwai is facing up to a month on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury against Wigan.

Latest on Warrington duo

Warrington head coach Daryl Powell says he expects to be without starting hooker Daryl Clark until at least their Round 10 clash with St Helens.

Clark, 30, left the field during their victory over Castleford at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle with a knee injury almost a fortnight ago.

Meanwhile, winger Matty Russell left the action in their 34-6 win over Hull on Saturday with a knee injury.

Speaking after the game, Powell said he thinks Russell’s injury isn’t too bad, but doesn’t know if he will be fit to face Catalans this Saturday.

Widdop absence explained

Gareth Widdop was a notable absentee in Castleford’s 22-18 defeat to Catalans in Perpignan on Saturday.

Andy Last, who took charge of his fourth game since the departure of Lee Radford in March, said that his side had been hit with sickness ahead of the Round Seven fixture, having travelled to France on Thursday.

It saw former England international Gareth Widdop sidelined, replaced by outside-back Jack Broadbent.

Last said: “We had a little bit of diarrhoea in camp while we were over here.

“It could be the baguettes or French cheese, I don’t know, but some of the guys have had it really tough.

“We had to isolate one or two of them, so to come away with that type of performance is a real credit to them.”

Tomkins comeback

In the same game, Sam Tomkins made his return from the sidelines as he entered the action in the second half, coming on for Mitchell Pearce.

Fusitu’a concern

Leeds winger David Fusitu’a limped off the field in the first half of their 20-12 defeat at Hull KR on Friday with an injury to his left ankle.

Speaking after the game, Leeds coach Rohan Smith said: “Not too sure but he’s clearly in a fair amount of pain and needed to be helped from the field so that will be a medium term injury at least.”

Huddersfield’s double injury blow

Huddersfield’s 26-16 win at Salford came at a cost, with coach Ian Watson confirming injury blows to key duo Will Pryce and Ashton Golding.

Full-back Pryce went down in a heap with no-one around him as he tried to do one of his big trademark sidesteps.

The 20-year-old was in a lot of pain as he was helped from the field with an ankle injury early in the second half.

Watson told Love Rugby League: “He stepped off it and it kind of just gave way a little bit. He’s rolled it.

“We’ll know more because they might have to scan it just to double check. He’s moving around alright inside (the changing rooms).”

Meanwhile, Golding was forced from the field in the closing minutes with a hamstring injury.

Watson said: “Ash thinks he has got a grade two hamstring. He thinks he’s had a pop on that (hamstring) and thinks it is pretty bad, but the physio thinks it is no worse than a grade two. If thats the case, then you are probably looking at six to eight weeks which is a bad one.”

Burgess blow

Salford winger Joe Burgess was withdrew from the action in the 38th minute of their defeat to Huddersfield holding his ribs.

Speaking after the game, Salford coach Paul Rowley told Love Rugby League: “He actually did about 15 or 20 minutes carrying it hoping he could get through it but to bring him off two minutes before half-time suggests he was a goner at that point.

“I think we will wait and see how he pulls up in the morning in regards to next week.”

Earlier last week, Rowley confirmed that centre Tim Lafai (calf and hamstring) and Amir Bourouh (shoulder) were facing long-term spells on the sidelines.

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