Witt may miss rest of season

Crusaders half-back Michael Witt may miss the rest of the Engage Super League Season with a knee injury.

Witt, 26, damaged knee ligaments against two weeks ago in the defeat at Harlequins. The injury has dealt the Welsh side a blow as they prepare to take on Leeds Rhinos at Headingley this Sunday (kick-off 3pm).

Witt has been one of Crusaders star performer since his arrival from New Zealand Rugby Union side Otago in the off-season. The current leader in the race for the Albert Goldthorpe Medal for Super League’s player of the year in Rugby League Express newspaper, he has kicked 35 goals for Crusaders as well as scoring six tries and creating another eight for his teammates.

This leaves Crusaders without their two main half-backs, as scrum-half Jarrod Samuut is expected to be out for a further six weeks with a fractured cheekbone. Neither player featured in the excellent 44-20 win over Bradford Bulls last week.

Head Coach Brian Noble: “It is a blow. We’ve probably lost Michael Witt for the rest of the season with a knee injury to add to our growing injury list. Michael has been one of the top half-backs in Super League this year so we are obviously disappointed to lose him. But I think we have the players to step up to the mark in his place.”