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Casualty Ward: Taylor, James to miss All Stars

Titans duo Ryan James and Ash Taylor will miss the Harvey Norman All Stars match due to injury.

James on Thursday suffered an injury to his right knee that will see him miss the next 2-3 weeks of training.

The Bilambil junior felt a pain in his knee and was immediately sent for a scan that revealed a minor medial ligament strain.

He is unavailable for the February 15 All Stars match but is working towards playing in the club’s final trial against the Brisbane Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium on March 2.

A shoulder injury will prevent Taylor from taking part in the match.

Meanwhile, Warriors hooker Issac Luke is in doubt for the start of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery. 

The New Zealand international is expected to start contact training at the end of January, with his return to action to be determined after that. 

Back-up hooker Nathaniel Roache is also in the casualty ward due to a hamstring injury suffered before Christmas but is expected to return to full training in the next few weeks.

Roosters superstar Cooper Cronk has returned to full-contact training following surgery on his fractured scapula, while Zane Tetevano and Lindsay Collins are also back in action after surgeries.

Star recruit Angus Crichton is undergoing rehab following shoulder surgery, while the club says English signing Ryan Hall is ahead of schedule in his recovery from his torn ACL suffered last year.

Meanwhile Broncos forward Joe Ofahengaue has been cleared of serious injury after rolling his ankle at training on Monday.

Broncos' Head of High Performance Paul Devlin said Ofahengaue should be able to resume training in the coming days.

"Joe rolled his ankle this morning but it wasn't anything serious," said Devlin.

"As soon as the small amount of swelling in the joint comes down he will be back out training on the field."

Captain Darius Boyd left training early with some calf muscle tightness but again Devlin said there was little to worry about.

"Darius' exit was just a precaution as he knows his body well," he said.

"He has been training at an exceptionally high standard this pre-season and I expect that to continue."

NRL Telstra premiership draw 2019

The latest Telstra Premiership injury news:

Brisbane Broncos

Joe Ofahengaue has been cleared of serious injury after suffering rolling his ankle at training. Playmaker Anthony Milford underwent a shoulder reconstruction and is on light duties throughout the summer with the Broncos confident he will be fit for round one. Andrew McCullough (finger) has returned to skills-based training after surgery.

Teenage star David Fifita (ankle) is back running at training with the rehab squad along with back-rower Matt Gillett (shoulder) and Jaydn Su'A (ankle). Jack Bird (sternum) has been given a clearance from his surgeon to return to full contact and is back on the paddock.

Payne Haas is well on the road to recovery from a shoulder reconstruction.

Canberra Raiders

Jordan Rapana will miss the first 11-14 rounds of the 2019 season following surgery on a dislocated shoulder suffered on Kiwis duty. Ata Hingano is expected to miss the opening six months of the season with a similar setback.

Michael Oldfield, a possible replacement for Rapana, will remain on modified duties at training as he continues to recover from a knee injury.

Jarrod Croker has started straight line running and is expected to return to full contact training in January. Aidan Sezer has overcome a hamstring injury.

Canterbury Bulldogs

Josh Jackson is well ahead of schedule following off-season shoulder surgery and is set to be available for the club's first trial game on February 23.

Both Jackson and Kerrod Holland (ankle) have returned to training with the main group - Jackson receiving a clearance to commence contact drills.

Bulldogs utility Fa'amanu Brown had surgery before Christmas for a leg stress fracture. He'll complete rehabilitation in February with an aim to return by round four.

Adam Elliott is training hard to start the Bulldogs' pre-season campaign following wrist surgery. Raymond Faitala-Mariner is back on the training paddock after overcoming a knee injury.

Kieran Foran (toe) and Marcelo Montoya (hamstring) have made full returns to training, while Corey Harawira-Naera joined the main group before Christmas after overcoming a groin complaint.

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Cronulla Sharks

Matt Moylan, Jayson Bukuya and Josh Dugan have all undergone shoulder operations. Moylan and Dugan are back on the paddock running, while Bukuya remains on light duties.

Sharks forward Wade Graham is targeting a comeback from his torn ACL "between round 9 and 12" next season.

The NSW and Australian back-rower told NRL.com he was no chance of being fit for the start of the season. "That's the timeframe I'm looking at - between round nine and 12," Graham said. "It's one of those things you can't rush. I'm going to make sure it's 100% right before I come back."

Jack Williams (pectoral) returned to training before Christmas.

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Gold Coast Titans

Ryan James and Ash Taylor will both miss the All Stars match due to injury.

Breakout star AJ Brimson is targeting a return against the Broncos in the final trial game in March after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction in September.  

Max King resumed contact training in December following shoulder surgery, while teammate Morgan Boyle won't be available with a similar injury until January.

Dale Copley (hamstring) and Michael Gordon (wrist) are on the comeback trail.

Manly Sea Eagles

Lachlan Croker and Curtis Sironen joined their teammates for training in November after more than six months off with ACL injuries.

Apisai Koroisau is also working his way back into shape in the off-season after missing the final three months of the competition with a fractured foot.

Melbourne Storm

Nelson Asofa-Solomona returned to training in early December after missing New Zealand's tour of the UK with an ankle injury.

North Queensland Cowboys

Michael Morgan is back into full training after a four-month injury layoff with a biceps injury. 

Cowboys veteran Matt Scott has denied media reports he was set to pull the pin on his decorated career and declared he was physically ready to play another season of NRL. 

"I have no intention of retiring early and I am really looking forward to starting next year," Scott told NRL.com in November.

"I had neck surgery about six weeks ago and I have got some great results from it. The last couple of weeks have been really good."

Newcastle Knights

Injured Knights forward Jacob Saifiti is out of a brace after suffering a fractured fibula in an off-field incident in December. 

The setback is expected to keep the 22-year-old out of action for the start of the 2019 season.

"He got really good news so he's out of the brace, building the weight bearing through his leg. Going through his strength phase and will go through the return to run protocol over the next few weeks," Head of Physical Performance, Balin Cupples, told newcastleknights.com.au.

Knights centre Tautau Moga is on track for a return in the early rounds of the 2019 season after passing a training test on his knee before Christmas.

The club says he's improving at a "rapid rate" after tearing his ACL early in the 2018 season, and he's now back training with the full-time squad.

Injured Knights hooker Slade Griffin has started running in another step towards playing again.

"Now we can really move into developing and strengthening that ACL repair," Knights physical performance manager Balin Cupples told newcastleknights.com.au.

"In line with that, now he's going to go into a real heavy strength phase."

Kalyn Ponga, Connor Watson, Nathan Ross and Daniel Saifiti are all back into training with the main squad following surgeries.

Hymel Hunt (shoulder) is expected to resume full training with his new teammates in January after minor surgery.

Parramatta Eels

New signing Blake Ferguson has recovered from a broken leg but spent New Years Eve in hospital after suffering a nasty leg cut on Christmas Day.

The mishap isn't expected to keep the former Roosters winger out of any action in 2019.

Parramatta forward Nathan Brown will spend at least  six weeks on the sidelines with the rehabilitation group after undergoing knee surgery in late December.

 
 
 
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Daniel Alvaro (knee) was injured late in the season but is back into full training. 

Peni Terepo, Will Smith (hamstring), Josh Hoffman (shoulder) are back on the paddock after overcoming their injuries.

Manu Ma'u (cheekbone/shoulder) will commence contact in January after multiple surgeries in the off-season.

Kaysa Pritchard underwent shoulder surgery and is on track for a round one return.

Penrith Panthers

Penrith forward Reagan Campbell-Gillard fractured his jaw before Christmas with Panthers GM confirming the injury was unrelated to his troubles during the season where he missed five games in between the Origin series with a broken jaw.

"It's not as serious. He will see (the) surgeon to make sure but we anticipate no surgery required," Gould said.

"He won't be chewing his food during the Christmas break. But he will be right for trial matches."

James Maloney (neck) and Nathan Cleary (ankle) have returned to the training paddock following surgeries.

Isaah Yeo, Dylan Edwards, Moses Leota are back with the main squad after niggling injuries. Sam McKendry continues to come back from a third ACL reconstruction and is on limited duties.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Greg Inglis had minor surgery on a neck complaint that hampered him for much of the 2018 season and has been given an extended break. He's expected back in full training in January.

Sam Burgess underwent cleanouts of his shoulder and wrist and is back in full  training.

Cameron Murray and Campbell Graham (both shoulder) are expected to return to full training in January following off-season surgeries.

Adam Doueihi underwent an ACL reconstruction in August. He started light running prior to the Christmas break with the club in no rush to push for a return in the early stages of next season given his young age.

St George Illawarra Dragons

Gareth Widdop is back on the training paddock but is limited with contact as he aims for a return to the field in round one.

Tariq Sims is in the middle of rehabilitation after tearing the meniscus in his knee during the preliminary final loss to South Sydney. Sims had surgery in late September and is expected to be on track for the club's first trial game in 2019.

Paul Vaughan is off his crutches after a serious foot injury at training but is not expected to return to training until after Christmas. Dragons teammate Jacob Host remains on light duties following a shoulder reconstruction.

Sydney Roosters

Cooper Cronk has returned to full-contact training following surgery on his fractured scapula and will be fit for round one, while Zane Tetevano (biceps) and Lindsay Collins (wrist) are also back in action after surgeries.

Star recruit Angus Crichton is undergoing rehab following shoulder surgery, while the club says English signing Ryan Hall is ahead of schedule in his recovery from his torn ACL suffered last year.

Warriors

Hooker Issac Luke is in doubt for the start of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

The New Zealand international is expected to start contact training at the end of January, with his return to action to be determined after that.

Back-up hooker Nathaniel Roache is also in the casualty ward due to a hamstring injury suffered before Christmas but is expected to return to full training in the next few weeks.

Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck underwent knee surgery in late September and is back training with the main squad.

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Wests Tigers

Josh Reynolds is back into full training after a hamstring injury. Josh Aloiai and Robbie Rochow (both hand) are back on the field after surgeries.

Rochow's injury was more serious than his Wests Tigers teammate but isn't expected to miss too much of the 2019 preparations.

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Queensland Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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