NRL Casualty Ward: Tino nears return to full training

NRL Casualty Ward: Nanai, Neame to miss Vegas venture; Croker medically retired

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Mon 1 Dec 2025, 03:59 PM

The Cowboys are set to be without forwards Jeremiah Nanai and Griffin Neame for their trip to Las Vegas to face the Knights as they recover from shoulder injuries.

Nanai injured his shoulder playing for Samoa against Tonga XIII at Suncorp Stadium and scans revealed the 22-year-old would need a shoulder reconstruction, which was completed earlier this week.

Neame picked up his injury in August and underwent a shoulder reconstruction later that month. He was originally expected to be fit for Round 1 but has endured a setback in his recovery.

The Cowboys have reported that timelines for the returns of both players will become clearer in the New Year.

In better news for the Cowboys, winger Murray Taulagi is expected to return to full training immediately after the Christmas break after picking up a knee injury during the Pacific Championships final.

Sea Eagles hooker Lachlan Croker has been forced into medical retirement following multiple concussions in the past two seasons, the most recent of which was in June this year while training.

The 28-year-old was restricted to just four NRL games in 2025, his final appearance for Manly being against the Titans on the Gold Coast in Round 15.

The Knights have received a huge boost with superstar Kalyn Ponga returning to pre-season in a modified training program as he progresses steadily through his rehab from a Lisfranc injury suffered in June.

Given the nature of the injury, the Knights have continued to take a measured approach with their skipper.

As part of his management plan, Ponga will use a protective boot at times, to assist with foot soreness and ensure his ongoing recovery is optimised.

The expectation is that the 27-year-old will return to full training in the new year and set his sights on the club's historic season opener against the Cowboys in Las Vegas on February 28.

Gun fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow heads an all-star list of Dolphins players set to return for the opening round of the 2026 NRL season.

Tabuai-Fidow suffered an MCL injury in the Dolphins’ final game of the 2025 season against the Raiders but is progressing well in his recovery,

Fellow Dolphins Jeremy Marshall-King and Francis Molo are also expected to be fit for Round 1 after picking up injuries during the Pacific Championships.

Marshall-King broke his thumb while representing New Zealand agajnst Toa Samoa while Molo fractured his eye socket in his final game for Samoa.

Captain Tom Gilbert (shoulder) is tracking well and is confident he will rejoin the squad in time for the first-up clash against the Rabbitohs while prop Daniel Saifiti is also pushing hard towards a Round 1 comeback after a shoulder injury in Round 8 which ended his 2025 campaign.

Meanwhile, Storm star Eli Katoa is set to miss the 2026 NRL season as he returns to Melbourne for the next phase of his recovery from brain surgery.

The edge forward was treated for seizure activity on the bench during Tonga's loss to New Zealand in Auckland on November 2.

Katoa suffered multiple head knocks before and during the clash at Eden Park and underwent surgery later that night.

He remained in hospital in Auckland for a fortnight but has now returned home to undergo further treatment and testing.

In a statement, Storm CEO Justin Rodski said it was too early to determine a timeline for Katoa's recovery.

"Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our number one priority," Rodski said.

"It is great to have him home safely and under the care of our club doctor and local specialists. He is improving each day and looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation from home.

"In consultation with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to training this pre-season and won’t be available for the 2026 season.

"He has a long road ahead in his recovery and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to training.

"Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and club. The Storm Family will rally around him and support him through his recovery."

England fullback AJ Brimson played just 10 minutes of the third Ashes Test before a shoulder injury forced him from the field.

The Titans speedster has had scans which revealed a grade three AC joint injury.

He will now begin a rehab program with a view to being back to full training in January, ahead of NRL pre-season trials held in February.

Star Kiwis duo Seb Kris and Nelson Asofa-Solomona were forced to watch the Pacific Cup final from the sidelines after suffering calf injuries.

The pair picked up the injuries leading into New Zealand's clash with Tonga, with both Kris and Asofa-Solomona late withdrawals from the 40-14 triumph.

Meanwhile, Sharks star Ronaldo Mulitalo will miss a large portion of the 2026 NRL season after tearing his ACL in New Zealand's win over Samoa.

The winger suffered the injury late in the Pacific Championships opener and is set to undergo surgery in the coming days.

With a typical nine-month recovery process from ACL ruptures, Mulitalo is looking at a return midway through Cronulla's 2026 campaign.

"Mulitalo will undergo surgery within the next week before beginning an extended recovery period," the club said in a statement. "However, he will work with Sharks medical staff in an effort to return to the field at some point during the 2026 NRL season."

Bulldogs winger Jethro Rinakama has suffered a serious shoulder injury playing for Fiji and could miss the start of the 2026 NRL season.

The 19-year-old played just 13 minutes of the Bati's Pacific Championships opener against Cook Islands before being forced from the field with a dislocated shoulder.

He will require a shoulder reconstruction and the six-month rehabilitation would see him miss the early rounds of the new season including the Bulldogs' trip to Las Vegas to face the Dragons at Allegiant Stadium.

The Rabbitohs have been dealt a blow with outside back Isaiah Tass suffering an ACL injury playing at the Murri carnival in Queensland last month.

Tass was representing his home town of Mackay when he sustained the injury which looks set to sideline the 26-year-old until the middle of the 2026 NRL season.

To view the complete NRL Casualty Ward, please visit the hub page.

Your club's NRL Casualty Ward

Chemist Warehouse Casualty Ward

Brisbane Broncos

Adam Reynolds (calf, 2026)
Billy Walters (ACL, 2026)
Hayze Perham (ACL, 2026)

Canberra Raiders

Corey Horsburgh (collarbone, pre-season training)
Seb Kris (calf, 2026)
Xavier Savage (shoulder, 2026)
Corey Harawira-Naera (seizure/medical, indefinite)

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Jethro Rinakama (shoulder, 2026)
Marcelo Montoya (ankle, 2026)
Stephen Crichton (ankle, 2026)
Enari Tuala (leg, 2026)

Cronulla Sharks

Tom Hazelton (concussion, 2026)
Oregon Kaufusi (concussion, 2026)
Liam Ison (ACL, 2026)
Kade Dykes (knee, 2026)
Cameron McInnes (ACL, 2026)
Ronaldo Mulitalo (ACL, 2026)

Dolphins

Jeremy Marshall-King (thumb, Round 1)
Francis Molo (eye socket, Round 1)
Tom Gilbert (shoulder, Round 1)
Daniel Saifiti (shoulder, Round 1)
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (knee, Round 1)
Max Plath (knee, Round 4, 2026)
Jack Bostock (knee, Round 10, 2026)
Tom Flegler (shoulder, 2026)

Gold Coast Titans

AJ Brimson (shoulder, pre-season training)
Phil Sami (groin, 2026)
Brock Gray (ACL, 2026)
Jojo Fifita (hamstring, 2026)
Jaimin Jolliffe (knee, 2026)

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Tommy Talau (thumb, 2026)
Aaron Schoupp (knee, 2026)
Reuben Garrick (shoulder, 2026)
Taniela Paseka (Achilles, 2026)
Nathan Brown (biceps, 2026)
Haumole Olakau'atu (shoulder, 2026)

Melbourne Storm

Stefano Utoikamanu (concussion, 2026)
Xavier Coates (Achilles, 2026)
Jack Howarth (groin, 2026)
Dean Ieremia (Achilles, 2026)
Eli Katoa (concussion, Indefinite)

Newcastle Knights

Kalyn Ponga (foot, pre-season training)
Dom Young (foot, 2026)
Adam Elliott (biceps, 2026)
Dylan Lucas (foot, 2026)
Fletcher Sharpe (spleen / kidney, 2026)
Paul Bryan (shoulder, 2026)

North Queensland Cowboys

Murray Taulagi (knee, pre-season training)
Coen Hess (suspended, Round 1)
Jeremiah Nanai (shoulder, 2026)
John Bateman (ankle, 2026)
Heilum Luki (ACL, 2026)
Griffin Neame (shoulder, 2026)
Viliami Vailea (hamstring, 2026)
Tom Chester (ACL, 2026)

Parramatta Eels

Arthur Miller-Stephen (ACL, 2026)
Sam Tuivaiti (knee, 2026)
Luca Moretti (calf, 2026)
Richie Penisini (knee, 2026)

Penrith Panthers

No injuries

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Isaiah Tass (ACL, 2026)
Liam Le Blanc (shoulder, 2026)
Campbell Graham (back, 2026)
Tevita Tatola (shoulder, 2026)

St George Illawarra Dragons

Connor Muhleisen (ACL, 2026)
Michael Molo (ankle, 2026)
Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring, 2026)
Moses Suli (knee, 2026)
Valentine Holmes (shoulder, 2026)
Toby Couchman (shoulder, 2026)
Ryan Couchman (ACL, 2026)
Dylan Egan (ACL, 2026)

Sydney Roosters

Rob Toia (foot, 2026)
Nat Butcher (knee, 2026)
Jake Elliott (shoulder, 2026)
Victor Radley (suspended, Round 6)

Warriors

Jacob Laban (leg, 2026)
Ali Leiataua (ankle, 2026)
Mitch Barnett (knee, 2026)
Rocco Berry (shoulder, 2026)
Luke Metcalf (ACL, 2026)

Wests Tigers

Taylan May (quad, pre-season training)
Latu Fainu (shoulder, 2026)

NRL Casualty Ward: Tino nears return to full training

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