THE Panthers have been battered by injury all season and will be even further undermanned following the hospitalisation of young star Bryce Cartwright with a lacerated kidney.
Cartwright is not expected to require surgery and the laceration is relatively minor, but he will remain in hospital for a few days as precaution.
Cartwright was just one of a host of big names to be struck down with injury in the penultimate round of the NRL regular season.
His Penrith teammate Jamie Soward was also admitted to hospital following a heavy collision with Jack Wighton shortly before half-time of the Monday night clash against Canberra and is in severe doubt for the Panthers’ wooden spoon showdown against the Knights this weekend.
Raiders five-eighth Blake Austin is also unlikely to play this weekend after he suffered a shoulder injury. While the extent and manner of the injury are unknown at this stage, Austin looked very ginger when the left the field early in the second half and seems only a remote chance of playing against Parramatta on Sunday.
Dragons backrower Joel Thompson went for scans on Monday after suffering a hamstring injury against the Titans while Melbourne centre Kurt Mann is expected to be fit for the Storm’s game against Brisbane despite leaving the field before full-time in the win over the Cowboys.
The seasons of Bulldogs halfback Trent Hodkinson (wrist) and Rabbitohs back-rower John Sutton (ankle) are both over following serious injuries.
Sutton went off shortly after half-time and did not return and will miss the rest of the season following an ankle injury. The former skipper has battled injury all year and given the Rabbitohs struggles in recent weeks his creativity on the edge of the ruck will be missed.
Eels backrower Manu Ma’u succumbed to a shoulder injury in the opening stages against the Sharks and did not return, placing him in doubt for the season finale against the Raiders.
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Cowboys young gun Ethan Lowe suffered a cork in his leg in the loss to Melbourne but will be available for selection this weekend. However, given that North Queensland cannot improve their ladder position, coach Paul Green may opt to rest the 24-year old.
Beau Falloon’s debut as Titans skipper lasted just 30 minutes after the veteran succumbed to a knee injury. With Falloon departing the club at the end of the season, he seems likely to have played his final match for the Gold Coast and looks set to be joined on the sidelines by Eddy Pettybourne, who hurt his ankle.
The expensive and ultimately disappointing Australian career of Sam Tomkinsseems to be over after the English fullback left the field early against the Tigers with a knee injury. Tomkins has endured an unhappy two-season stint in New Zealand and is in doubt for the final round match against the Bulldogs this Sunday.
KEY INJURIES AFTER ROUND 25:
Blake Austin (shoulder)
Jamie Soward (concussion)
Bryce Cartwright (kidney)
John Sutton (ankle);
Manu Ma’u (shoulder);
Trent Hodkinson (wrist);
Ethan Lowe (leg);
Nate Myles (thumb),
Eddy Pettybourne (ankle)
Beau Falloon (knee);
Sam Tomkins (knee);
Joel Thompson — (hamstring)
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