Sione Injured

[Tom155]

F**k!!!


Newcastle Knights youngster Sione Mata’utia could miss up to 10 weeks of NRL season

Newcastle have been dealt a huge blow with fears boom youngster Sione

Mata'utia could miss up to 10 weeks of the NRL season after damaging his ankle in the Auckland Nines.

It is thought the utility back suffered a syndesmosis injury in the Knights' third pool game of the tournament against Manly on Sunday.

A hobbling Mata'utia was placed in a moon boot on the team's return journey to Newcastle on Monday. He will have scans to confirm the extent of the damage, but the worst-case scenario could see him sidelined for the opening 10 rounds.

It comes at a cruel time for the 18-year-old, who burst onto the scene last year. After playing just seven games, he became the Kangaroos' youngest Test player when he made his debut against England in the Four Nations playing on the wing. He was expected to take his place on the wing for the Knights for their opening-round clash against the Warriors.

The injury could also keep Mata'utia from retaining his place in the Test squad with the Kangaroos to play their only match of the season against the Kiwis on May 1.

While the injury is a blow to the Knights' chances, they have a host of backline depth. Dane Gagai and Joel Leulia will feature in the centres while skipper Kurt Gidley will return to fullback.

NSW winger James McManus is locked in a battle with former Test player Akuila Uate, speedster Jake Memo plus Mata'utia's brothers Chanel and Pat for two wing spots. Teammate Carlos Tuimavave also hurt his ankle at the Nines but is expected to be eligible for round-one selection.

Parramatta were hardest hit by injuries, with Kaysa Pritchard (pectoral) facing an extended stint on the sideline. Teammates Chris Sandow (ankle),

Ken Edwards (knee) and Brad Takairangi (ankle) returned to Sydney to have scans on Monday while Cronulla youngster half Fa'amanu Brown's season is over after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Cronulla's semi-final win.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...o-10-weeks-of-nrl-season-20150202-133zjq.html

 

[Dave_]

And so it begins.....

Can we please just have ONE injury free season? Is that so much to ask?

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

At least we can easily cover his position

 

[Noname36]

It does say he has to have scans to determine the extent of the damage so for all we know he might not even miss anything. The club said that the scans were mainly precautionary and I'd be more inclined to believe them over a journo. Fingers crossed he's alright either way...on the bright side at least it wasn't someone in a position we can't replace.

 

[The Showstopper]

Gives the lad plenty of time now to let him really sit and think about what he really wants to do contract wise. Mamo will most likely get a first dig at a wing spot.

 

[macavity]

Mamo over Aku and Jimmy?

Doubt it...

 

[Joker's Wild]

Aku will get selected but he is also on the injured list yeah?

Seems yet again we have a lot of depth in the most easily replaceable position on the paddock. At least most can transfer to FB too

 

[perverse]

Well, that's shit news. I wonder will this make it harder or easier for us to retain him?

 

[The Showstopper]

Mamo over Aku and Jimmy?

Doubt it...

In my humble opinion he has more ability than either. I fully expect Sione and Mamo to be our wingers by season's end. No point denying we have two youngsters ready to displace two blokes past their best. It is that slowly slowly approach that costs us players over and over. You have got to roll the dice or you lose out.

 

[slotmachine]

Short memories. A fit and happy aku is the best winger in the world.

I think we see that this year.

 

[Noname36]

Short memories. A fit and happy aku is the best winger in the world.

I think we see that this year.

He absolutely is, but how fit is he? He's been injured during the off season and didn't play for weeks and weeks before that.

Aku is still one of my favorite players and I'd love nothing more for him to get back to his best but Stone has 2 years to make a good impression and he's not going to do that by selecting for loyalty over fitness and form.

Whoever is fit and plays/impresses in our trial against the Raiders should get selected in round 1 IMO.

 

[slotmachine]

Saw him the other day, he passes the eye test.

Having had knee surgery I was worried he'd be a blimp.

 

[Noname36]

Yeah, Stone said he'd lost weight...Thank God. Doesn't mean he's match fit though. There's no way he should be picked round 1 if he can't make make a trial IMO. He needs a run. So does Macca probably. They've been injured and haven't played in a very long time.

 

[Noname36]

The Newcastle Knights returned home with what are expected to be two minor injuries following the Auckland Nines tournament.

It is suspected Sione Mata’utia suffered a low-grade ankle strain in game three of the tournament. As a precaution, Mata’utia missed the quarter-final and traveled home in a moon boot.

He saw the specialist on Wednesday, who wasn’t overly concerned with the injury but has scheduled precautionary scans on Wednesday.

While for Carlos Tuimavave, who was injured in the second game of the tournament, he will have an x-ray on his lower leg on Wednesday.

Results for both players are expected on Thursday.

http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2015/02/03/injury_update_after_.html

Brett Keeble ‏@BrettKeeble 8m8 minutes ago
@NRLKnights confident Sione Mata'utia ankle injury nothing serious & he should be fit for opening round of season or Feb 21 trial. @NHSport

KOFM Newcastle ‏@1029KOFM 9m9 minutes ago
The @NRLKnights say the ankle injury Sione Mata'utia has suffered is minor, but he will be sent for precautionary scans tomorrow #newsroom

 

[Knight4life]

I see aku from time to time in the area, and he looks as fit as his ever looked to me.
Definatly shed a few kgs. I'm expecting a massive season from him, no doubt he relises the young guys right behind him and will hopefully fight tooth and nail to hold his position.

 

[Noname36]

Great work as always SMH :roll:

Sione Mata’utia likely to be fit for round one

Brett Keeble


The Knights expect teen sensation Sione Mata'utia will be available for their season-opener against the Warriors at Hunter Stadium in five weeks despite an ankle sprain that will require precautionary scans on Wednesday.

The exciting 18-year-old utility back is believed to have suffered a syndesmosis injury in Newcastle's third game of the Auckland Nines tournament against Manly at Eden Park last Sunday, and he returned home wearing a protective CAM boot.

The Newcastle Herald was told on Monday that Mata'utia feared he had suffered significant damage to his ankle.

If that was the case, he could have been ruled out for the first 10 rounds of the season, but Knights coach Rick Stone eased those concerns on Tuesday and said Mata'utia could be back at training next week.


"I'd be very surprised if there's an issue with Sione," Stone said of Australia's youngest ever Test player.

"He actually warmed up for our quarter-final [against eventual Nines champions Souths], but he just felt his ankle jamming up a bit. He wasn't sure about it, so he didn't play."

Stone said Mata'utia saw Knights sports physician Dr Neil Halpin on Tuesday and would have a scan on Wednesday to rule out any possibility of a serious injury.

According to a club statement, Dr Halpin was not "overly concerned" about Mata'utia's injury.

"It is suspected Sione Mata'utia suffered a low-grade ankle strain in game three of the [Nines] tournament. As a precaution, Mata'utia missed the quarter-final and travelled home in a moon boot," the statement said.

The Herald understands that even if scans reveal a low-grade syndesmosis injury, Mata'utia would only be sidelined for up to three weeks and could be considered for Newcastle's only full-blown trial against Canberra at Queanbeyan on February 21.

The Knights kick off their NRL campaign at home to the Warriors on March 7.

In a barn-storming finish to last season, Mata'utia made his NRL debut and scored seven tries in Newcastle's final seven games.

He earned a call-up to the Australian team for the Four Nations tournament and played in three Tests, including the Kangaroos' 22-18 loss to New Zealand in the final.

On the strength of that form, the versatile Mata'utia is in the mix for selection somewhere in the back line but he is up against captain Kurt Gidley and established representative players James McManus, Dane Gagai, Joey Leilua and Aku Uate.

Knights utility back Carlos Tuimavave has been scheduled to have x-rays on a lower-leg injury he suffered in the second game of the Nines against the Eels on Saturday.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/newcastle-knights/sione-matautia-likely-to-be-fit-for-round-one-20150203-135bgi.html

 

[Still Nutty]

Great news on Sione and I'm sure it is a headache Rick Stone will be happy to deal with.

Lets hope the prognosis on Carlos Tuimavave is equally positive:thumn

 

[The Showstopper]

What do you lads see as the most likely scenario for this club with Sione and his brothers. My guess, and it is just that, is Gagai is likely to be only offered a deal if they leave cos Mamo, and the brothers are the priority in the clubs eyes. I have heard reliably that is the general consensus.

 

[Still Nutty]

What do you lads see as the most likely scenario for this club with Sione and his brothers. My guess, and it is just that, is Gagai is likely to be only offered a deal if they leave cos Mamo, and the brothers are the priority in the clubs eyes. I have heard reliably that is the general consensus.

I think there is logic in it...

I reckon, in Stone's plans, Gidley is fullback, which means the competition for Sione is wing/centre positions and I think he will be more effective in the centres and closer to getting the ball more often than at wing. A winger's role also includes rucking out of your red zone when the forwards need a breather and I don't think that is a practical use of Sione's talents.

If that is the focus for Sione, then it is Dane or Joey who are exposed and of the 2 for me Dane is the more likely to be under pressure. I think he has talent and capable of individual brilliance but I think he is prone to too much cross field running, which generally makes him easy pickings for defence?I can?t really think of many times over the past couple of seasons where I?ve seen him run lines and hit holes to beat the defence. He also probably needs to be 5 Kg + heavier. Whilst I think Joey has his weaknesses too (he has a lot to learn in reading defensive plays and oppositions do exploit that), I think he is more suited to playing with Sione as a centre pairing.

I?m not sure Chanel and Pat are as significant in the plans for this year, as I see Mamo in front of Chanel for a wing spot and I think Aku and McManus will be stronger contenders and likely the primary picks for Stone, if they are fit and show some form.

So with all of that, I would think Dane is likely to be the most exposed if the brothers future is settle at the Knights.

 

[Noname36]

What do you lads see as the most likely scenario for this club with Sione and his brothers. My guess, and it is just that, is Gagai is likely to be only offered a deal if they leave cos Mamo, and the brothers are the priority in the clubs eyes. I have heard reliably that is the general consensus.

IMO the club are already expecting Gagai to go back to Brisbane. I reckon it's a done deal and they'd be planning for 2016 under that view. Saying that though you never know. After the Broncos shafted his cousin and childhood mate Gagai might not be too keen to get back up there. Stone said last year he saw Gagai strongly in his future plans so if the Brisbane move wasn't a sure thing I say he'd definitely be offered a contract regardless of the Mata'utias. Remember Gidley will probably leave in 2015 too (fingers crossed) and that will leave us without a fullback and a centre if Gagai goes too and Sione can only play one.

All of this will come down to money of course though. There's no doubt we're going to end up paying massive overs for Chanel and Pat to keep Sione. Even after getting Gidley and Smith's money we're going to struggle to re-sign anyone else but the brothers let alone make any new purchases. Ross or Pat had better step up and do it well because we won't be able to afford another fullback or centre (depending on where Sione ends up).