‘Quite significant’: Doubt over Knights star; Storm weigh up ‘risk’ for Panthers game — Casualty Ward

Newcastle halfback Jackson Hastings may not even be fit to return next week should the Knights keep their season alive against the Warriors on Saturday afternoon.

That is according to Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien, who told reporters there is a possibility Hastings’ injury is serious enough to keep him sidelined.

“Potentially. I’m not across everything just yet, but potentially,” O’Brien said when asked if Hastings could spend more time out with what he described as a “quite significant” injury.

“I think there could have been a little bit more damage to it.”

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Hastings had only returned from a syndesmosis injury last weekend against Canberra when he went down after reaggravating an ankle issue in the 30-28 win.

While other teams may struggle without their starting halfback, O’Brien said he was confident Adam Clune would be a seamless replacement having previously filled in the halves this season for Newcastle.

“He’s a quality player Jackson,” O’Brien said.

“I won’t understate that, I don’t want to downplay it. But what I will talk about is what Adam Clune’s done for us in some pretty big games at the back end of this season.

“There were games that felt like semi-finals and Adam came in and did a great job.”

The Knights will also be without Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) and Daniel Saifiti (hamstring) on Saturday, with Dylan Lucas and Brodie Jones taking their place.

STORM FACING ‘SIMILAR’ HEADACHE ON INJURED STAR HUGHES

Elsewhere, Craig Bellamy said both Xavier Coates (ankle) and Jahrome Hughes (calf) are “a chance” of suiting up to play Penrith in next week’s preliminary final.

“I think Jahrome has a better chance than Xavier at the moment,” added the Storm coach after Melbourne’s 18-13 win over the Roosters.

“Until they start running we won’t know. Xavier is still in a boot. That said, I’ve seen guys in boots for seven days and then they’re playing two days later.”

Storm skipper Christian Welch said in the case of Hughes it would be a case of weighing up whether it is worth the risk if he is not 100 per cent.

“I think he’s a good chance [next week],” Welch said on Triple M.

“I think there was just a big risk of re-injury last night. I think we could have maybe strapped him up but I think he just didn’t want to put the team under pressure if it did go, so I guess we’re going to be facing a similar question [next week] and I guess that’s going to be up to Bellsa and Jahrome about what the risk appetite is there.

“The upside of having Jahrome play and then also the chance your seven gets injured and all of a sudden your bench rotation is getting disrupted a bit. Not sure what the coach will go with but a guy like Tyran Wishart really stepped up really well tonight. A good problem to have.”

FULL CASUALTY WARD

BRONCOS

Xavier Willison (leg) — TBC

RAIDERS

Corey Horsburgh (suspension) — 2024

Josh Papalii (biceps) — season

Corey Harawira-Naera (seizure) — indefinite

Elijah Anderson (knee) — season

BULLDOGS

Ryan Sutton (neck) — season

Jake Averillo (knee) — season

SHARKS

Tom Hazelton (abdominal) — season

William Kennedy (hamstring) — season

Teig Wilton (knee) — season

Kade Dykes (knee) — season

Dale Finucane (biceps) — season

DOLPHINS

Brenko Lee (ankle) — season

Jeremy Marshall-King (shoulder) — season

Tom Gilbert (shoulder) — season

Robert Jennings (knee) — season

TITANS

Sam Verrills (shoulder) — season

Tanah Boyd (shoulder) — season

Erin Clark (shoulder) — season

Beau Fermor (knee) — season

Jayden Campbell (knee) — season

Phil Sami (foot) — season

Isaac Liu (finger) — season

SEA EAGLES

Taniela Paseka (knee) — season

Cooper Johns (biceps) — season

Josh Aloiai (shoulder) — season

Reuben Garrick (back) — season

Tom Trbojevic (pectoral) — season

Matt Lodge (knee) — season

Karl Lawton (shoulder) — season

STORM

Xavier Coates (ankle) — TBC

Jahrome Hughes (calf) — TBC

Jonah Pezet (hamstring) — finals week two

Ryan Papenhuyzen (ankle) — season

George Jennings (knee) — season

Dean Ieremia (knee) — season

Aaron Pene (ankle) — indefinite

KNIGHTS

Daniel Saifiti (hamstring) — TBC

Jackson Hastings (ankle) — TBC

Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) — TBC

Krystian Mapapalangi (shoulder) — season

Bailey Hodgson (shoulder) — season

Jayden Brailey (knee) — season

COWBOYS

Jeremiah Nanai (shoulder) — season

Valentine Holmes (suspension) — season

Semi Valemei (knee) — season

Tom Chester (knee) — season

PANTHERS

Taylan May (knee) — season

Jarome Luai (shoulder) — finals week 3

RABBITOHS

N/A

DRAGONS

Tyrell Fuimaono (hip) — season

Cody Ramsey (illness) — season

Jaydn Su’A (shoulder) — season

Jack Bird (shoulder) — season

ROOSTERS

Paul Momirovski (shoulder) — finals week two

Joseph Suaalii (concussion) — finals week three

Joey Manu (hamstring) — finals week three

Daniel Tupou (knee) — finals week three

Naufahu Whyte (knee) — indefinite

Connor Watson (knee) — indefinite

Sitili Tupouniua (neck) — indefinite

WARRIORS

Shaun Johnson (calf) — finals week two

Luke Metcalf (hamstring) — season

Valingi Kepu (foot) — season

Ali Leiataua (hamstring) — season

Demeitric Sifakula (ACL) — season

WESTS TIGERS

Triston Reilly (knee) — season

Charlie Staines (hamstring) — season

Luke Brooks (calf) — season

Adam Doueihi (knee) — season