Mitch Kenny suffers broken leg, syndesmosis injury after Kodi Nikorima hip drop
The NSW Origin hopeful will face a lengthy rehab process after scans uncovered a syndesmosis injury in addition to the fractured leg suffered in Darwin
David Riccio
@DaveRic1
4 min read
April 18, 2026 - 3:57PM
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...9319cab4391172fc9f9e4b0b302e1d56?amp#comments
NRL: Mitch Kenny has suffered a suspected fracture in his leg after this tackle from Kodi Nikorima.
Panthers three-time premiership-winner Mitch Kenny is facing between eight to 12-weeks on the sideline after suffering a fractured leg on Friday night.
The serious leg injury was compounded by scans revealing an additional syndesmosis injury following a hip drop tackle by Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima on Friday night.
Nikorima faces the ire of the NRL match review committee following the tackle.
Kenny was rushed to a Darwin hospital for scans during the first-half of the Panthers 23-22 golden-point win over the Dolphins where scans revealed a fractured fibula and syndesmosis injury.
The NSW Origin contender was discharged from the hospital late on Friday night and has been cleared by doctors to fly back to Sydney from Darwin on Saturday with his Penrith teammates.
Nikorima was sin-binned for the tackle that injured Kenny. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Kenny will require surgery early next week with the initial prognosis that he will miss at least two months of football.
The Panthers will rely on back-up hooker Freddy Lussick to cover Kenny’s loss, while Jack Cogger could also be used at dummy-half.
Despite another leading player being sidelined by a controversial hip drop tackle, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary defended Nikorima from any intent.
“It just happens,” he said.
“Mitch did something similar a few weeks ago to Izzy Iongi (Eels fullback). So, I don’t think there’s any malice in that, just unfortunate.”
Nikorima is facing a two-match ban for the tackle after being charged with a grade three dangerous contact charge by the MRC.
Kenny took to social media on Saturday morning to declare he also held no ill-will towards Nikorima.
Kenny posted to his Instagram story Saturday morning.
“Feet up for a little while. No malice or intent in it, just an unfortunate part of the game we play,’’ Kenny posted on Instagram.
“Thanks for all the messages and support, I’ll be sweet!.”
Raiders star Hudson Young is also facing a two-match ban for a high shot on Melbourne’s Sua Fa’alogo.
Young has been charged by the NRL Match Review Committee after Friday night’s win over the Storm.
Young was charged with a Grade Two Careless High Tackle in the 78th minute of the match.
If he takes the early guilty plea he’ll miss two matches, if he fights the charge and loses he will miss three matches.
The Raiders face the Wests Tigers and Titans in the next two weeks.
PANTHERS PULL OFF TOP END MIRACLE
- Dave Lyall
Nathan Cleary was again the hero but an unsavoury incident 17 minutes into the game has soured Penrith’s stunning 23-22 golden point victory over the Dolphins in oppressive conditions in Darwin on Friday night.
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Take me there
The Phins had bravely fought back from 18-0 down at halftime to hit the lead before Penrith equalised to send the match to extra time.
Both teams however will be nervously waiting for the repercussions to drop after Kodi Nikorima was put on report and sin binned for a hip drop on Mitch Kenny, forcing the Panthers’ hooker off the field for the remainder of the match with a badly broken leg.
Kenny somehow hobbled off but was sent to hospital before halftime and awaiting the opinion of a surgeon with consideration being given to an immediate operation.
In what began as a regulation tackle, Nikorima slid down Kenny’s legs in an attempt to make a solo stop but ended up with his weight on the lower half of the rake’s legs as Kenny fell to the ground.
Referee Adam Gee didn’t act immediately but after word from bunker official Chris Butler and a realisation the injury was more serious, Nikorima was sent to the bin.
Mitch Kenny suffered a broken leg in this hip-drop tackle from Kodi Nikorima. Picture: Getty Images
Despite the unfortunate loss of Kenny, the Panthers returned to the winner’s circle for the sixth time in seven matches to start the season.
Penrith dominated possession in the first half and the Phins were forced to defend for their lives, making 70 more tackles than their opposition in the opening 30 minutes. It was a courageous performance from Kristian Woolf’s team coming off the back of a flogging at the hands of Manly and a bye.
They were well down at the break and in the conditions it looked like it would be too big a mountain to climb in the second half but Herbie Farnworth and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow had other ideas, both scoring brilliant individual tries to kick start a comeback that continued when Selwyn Cobbo crossed to level the scores and Jake Averillo pushed them into the lead.
Tom Jenkins scored for Penrith to again tie things up with five to go before Cleary iced the game.
The Dolphins have had their hearts broken, falling just short after a stunning comeback. Picture: NRL Imagery
Dolphins forward Tom Gilbert will join Nikorima in an anxious wait to hear from the match review committee after being placed on report for a hip drop on Jenkins in the dying minutes.
Hot and sweaty
The match was played in uncomfortable tropical conditions with the temperature hovering around 27 degrees at kick off.
The humidity was extreme, pushing up past 90 per cent with an extended rest at the main break and two-minute stoppages for drinks midway through each half instituted to help reduce the effect on players.
Despite the extra concessions it was clear both teams laboured throughout with several cramping late in the game.
NATHAN’S ROLLERCOASTER
Cleary was brilliant in the first half with two line breaks and two try assists, controlling what appeared would be a regulation victory.
In the second half he twice put deep kicks over the Dolphins’ dead ball line and was burnt badly by Farnworth for his try.
When it mattered though, he delivered.
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Take me there
MILKY MAGIC
Jenkins continued his dream start to 2026, scoring the try that lifted the Panthers into golden point.
It was his 16th from seven games this season, an extraordinary seven more than anyone else in the competition. The revelation of the year had early leapt high above Jamayne Isaako to score his 15th for Penrith’s third try.
HERBIE THE THIEF
Dolphins strike centre Farnworth was enormous in a beaten side, twice stealing the ball from Penrith attackers to go with his try, 183 run metres, two line breaks and an incredible 12 tackle busts.
