NRL Injury Hub: Roosters star learns extent of hamstring injury

The NRL season is officially underway.

But already, there are several stars who are battling injuries that could impact their team's performance in 2026.

The Dolphins have confirmed that Kurt Donoghoe's first game of 2026 will be delayed to Round 3 following some issues with his hamstring.

While Sydney Rooster Spencer Leniu is set to miss up to five weeks after scans confirmed he's had a partial tear of his hamstring.

See your club's injury list below.

Billy Walters will miss most of 2026 as he recovers from his ACL reconstruction following the Broncos' qualifying final win. With this year being the last year of his contract, the pressure will be on the five-eighth to hit the ground running for a contract renewal.

Second-rower Brendan Piakura is expected to be fit by the Broncos’ Round 3 clash against the Storm following his meniscus tear, which required surgery.

Having missed all of the 2025 season with a ruptured ACL, Hayze Perham has remained on the sidelines with a return date yet to be confirmed.

Injury List

• Billy Walters (ACL)
• Brendan Piakura (knee)
• Hayze Perham (ACL)

During the 18th minute mark against the Sea-Eagles, Josh Papali'i would have to come off the field after suffering a concussion. With Big Papa now in concussion protocols, he'll miss the Green Machine's clash against the Warriors.

Injury List

• Josh Papali'i (concussion)

New signing Leo Thompson is set to be out for 10 weeks with a calf strain. The injury was initally detected just before the All-Stars game with scans later showing it to be a Grade 3.

19-year-old Mitch Woods will become available from Round 4 at the earliest after picking up a minor hamstring injury in late January.

After signing with the club in August, Kade Dykes will have to wait until April (Round 5 at the earliest) before he’s available for selection with his new club. The former Cronulla fullback has been suffering from a ruptured patellar tendon.

Jethro Rinakama will likely miss the start of the season as he still recovers from his shoulder reconstruction. The winger suffered the injury while representing Fiji during the Pacific Championship. His return date will be between April and May, as per GM of Football, Phil Gould.

Finau Latu is still sidelined with an injury.

Injury List

• Leo Thompson (calf)
• Mitchell Woods (hamstring
• Kade Dykes (knee)
• Jethro Rinakama (shoulder)
• Finau Latu (unknown)

Sustaining an ACL injury during Cronulla’s hot finish to the home and away season, club captain Cam McInnes is doing all that he can to get back on the park. With his recovery going smoothly, a return date of May (Round 9 at the soonest) is on track.

Ronaldo Mulitalo will also miss most of the season as he also recovers from his ruptured ACL, which he sustained during the Pacific Championships for New Zealand.

Mawene Hiroti was the other injury concern following their last pre-season match having been pulled out of the extended bench with a knee injury.

Having missed the vast majority of the 2025 season going through rehab from his ACL, fullback Liam Ison is raring to go for the upcoming season as he looks for some consistent minutes in the NRL.

Teig Wilton remains out of the side as he recovers from having surgery on his shoulder.

Injury List

• Cameron McInnes (ACL)
• Ronaldo Mulitalo (ACL)
• Liam Ison (ACL)
• Teig Wilton (shoulder)
• Mawene Hiroti (knee)

Having come oh so close to making the finals in the last two seasons, Kristan Woolf will be hoping for a much kinder injury run in 2026 to help get them into the top eight.

The former St Helens coach will be expecting to have prop Daniel Saifiti ready for their Round 3 match against the Sharks after not playing a game since his shoulder injury against the Raiders back in Round 8.

Kurt Donoghoe has had his return date listed for Round 3 following an issue with his hamstring.

The depth in their forward pack will continue to build as the season progresses, with Jeremy Marshall-King and Jack Bostock all expected to return from knee injuries in the first half of the season.

While 20-year-old LJ Nonu is on track to be available for selection from Round 4 after a PCL injury during the pre-season.

Injury List

• Daniel Saifiti (shoulder)
• LJ Nonu (knee)
• Kurt Donoghoe (hamstring)
• Jeremy Marshall-King (knee)
• Jack Bostock (knee)

As they begin a new era under coach Josh Hannay, the Gold Coast Titans are keen on getting to a good start. And while their is plenty of optimism around the squad, they still have some injuries to contend with.

Already, they’ve lost prop Jaimin Jolliffe for the season from an ACL rupture.

Second rower Brock Gray will likely be available in the early parts of the season after doing his ACL during the 2025 season.

Talented halfback Jayden Campbell will have a delayed start to the premiership season after sustaining a hamstring strain towards the end of the pre-season. He is expected to play his first game against the Cowboys in Round 3.

While Sam Verrills will play in Round 2 after suffering an issue with his sternum during the Titans' 50-10 loss to the Sharks.

Injury List

• Brock Gray (ACL)
• Jaimin Jolliffe (knee)
• Sam Verrills (sternum)
• Jayden Campbell (hamstring)

As the Sea-Eagles enter a post-DCE era, they’ll be doing so with various players sidelined throughout the 2026 season.

Caleb Navale will be battling to feature in the maroon and white after sustaining an ACL injury during pre-season. At this stage, the lock is expected to return in the final two rounds.

Aaron Schoupp is expected to be fit and firing from April after his ACL injury.

Siosiua Taukeiaho will next feature for the Sea-Eagles towards the end of the month following a calf injury in the side's golden point loss to Canberra.

Injury List

• Aaron Schoupp (ACL)
• Siosiua Taukeiaho (calf)
• Caleb Navale (ACL)

Star winger Xavier Coates suffered an Achilles injury in the Storm's Grand Final loss, which saw him wear a moon boot after the match. His recovery from the injury has not gone according to plan, which now means he'll miss the first three months of the season. That puts his return date to approximately Round 10 at the earliest.

Having been taken out within the first minute of the Storm's season opener following a high tackle by J'maine Hopgood, Alec MacDonald won't play until Round 3 as he sits in concussion protocols.

Following his significant concussions against New Zealand while representing Tonga, which resulted in a brain bleed, Eliesa Katoa will not play in the 2026 season.

Shawn Blore is also likely to make his return within the next two weeks after copping an ankle injury during the pre-season.

Injury List

• Eliesa Katoa (concussion)
• Xavier Coates (Achilles)
• Shawn Blore (ankle)
• Alec MacDonald (concussion)

Andrew Webster is likely to have Maruta Niukore (calf) available for selection for the Round 2 clash against the Raiders.

After doing his ACL in Round 13 last season, New South Wales and Australian representative Mitch Barnett is set to provide a massive boost to the side’s forward pack with his expected return during the early part of the season.

His return is to hopefully be shortly followed by Newcastle junior Jye Linnane, who signed with the Warriors for the next three years. The 20-year-old ruptured his ACL last pre-season and will be raring to go.

Another player raring to go for his return will be Luke Metcalf. The halfback was leading the Dally M Medal before going down with an ACL injury, which saw the Warriors struggle. He is currently on track for a Round 8-10 return.

Centre Rocco Berry is aiming for a return from his shoulder injury halfway through the season.

Five-eighth Te Maire Martin is now expected to the first half of the season which has deepened the issues facing the Warriors' halves situation.

After hurting his right ankle in the NRL All-Stars match, it's been confirmed that he has broken his leg with an expected return during Round 10 to 11.

Injury List

• Te Maire Martin (ankle)
• Marata Niukore (calf)
• Mitch Barnett (knee)
• Jye Linnane (knee)
• Luke Metcalf (ACL)
• Rocco Berry (shoulder)

Following his electric performance in the first 25 minutes of the Knights' season-opening win against the Cowboys, club officials and fans will be sweating on the severity of Fletcher Sharpe's knee injury.

But having only suffered a PCL injury, he'll only miss the Knights clash against the Sea-Eagles.

Injury List

• Fletcher Sharpe (knee)

With Todd Payten firmly in the hot seat for 2026, the pressure is on the Cowboys to make the most of a very talented list. And that pressure has only increased following their loss to last year's wooden spooners in the Knights.

During their 28-18 loss, Scott Drinkwater suffered an rib injury during the first half. He was able to return to play and will take to the field in Round 2.

He wasn't the only Cowboy to come out injured from their Vegas adventure with Tom Mikaele suffering a knee injury following a dangerous tackle by Newcastle's Tyson Frizell. He's expected to return in Round 7.

Second rower and Queensland representative Jeremiah Nanai will follow suit with his own shoulder injury. His return to the team will be in April.

John Bateman also remains a watch for the club. Having been pulled out of the pre-season match against the Panthers with a wrist injury, the Englishman is yet to play a match in 2026.

Injury List

• Jeremiah Nanai (shoulder)
• Tom Mikaele (knee)
• Scott Drinkwater (ribs)
• John Bateman (wrist)

Following a strong finish to Jason Ryles’ first season in charge, the Eels will be hoping to build upon their 2025 foundation in 2026.

Following a successful surgery on his thumb, Kangaroos' winger Josh Addo-Carr will feature for the Eels in Round 2.

The club also confirmed that Samoan representative Ronald Volkman will return from his quad injury by Round 4.

Arthur Miller-Stephen will also hopefully be in contention for a spot in 2026 after having torn his ACL last April.

Injury List

• Josh Addo-Carr (thumb)
• Arthur Miller-Stephen (ACL)
• Ronald Volkman (quad)

Having remained uninjured throughout the majority of the pre-season, the Panthers have picked up a couple of injuries before their preliminary final rematch against the Broncos.

Prop Liam Henry will be out till at least Round 3 after sustaining a knee injury during Penrith's pre-season training.

While Liam Martin is out for their first match of the season with a calf injury.

Injury List

• Liam Henry (knee)
• Liam Martin (calf)

Despite a positive start to the season, the Bunnies were quickly ravaged by injuries throughout 2025. And the injuries have continued to pile up in 2026.

Yet to make his NRL debut, 23-year-old five-eighth/halfback Jonah Glover will now need surgery on his jaw, which was broken whilst trying to tackle Luciano Leilua. The former Dragon will now be sidelined for eight weeks.

Talanoa Penitani will also be out for eight weeks. The centre would tear his right ACL during their win against St George Illawarra.

Centre Isaiah Tass is likely to miss most of the 2026 season after rupturing his ACL during the off-season while playing in the Murri Carnival.

Into his second season for the green and red, Brandon Smith will have a delayed start to the season, having confirmed that he has a calf strain. New signing Adam Elliott is also in the same boat, having suffered a calf injury as well.

Jai Arrow has been ruled out for at least the next month following nerve issues within his shoulder.

After being named as the starting No. 7 in their season opener, Ashton Ward will now be sidelined for the next eight weeks following a syndesmosis injury that requires surgery.

Injury List

• Adam Elliott (calf)
• Jonah Glover (jaw)
• Brandon Smith (calf)
• Talanoa Penitani (hamstring)
• Isaiah Tass (ACL)
• Jai Arrow (shoulder)
• Ashton Ward (syndesmosis)

Second-rower Dylan Egan should be back playing in the Red V by Round 10 after his hamstring injury.

St George Illawarra have also confirmed that Jacob Liddle will not play in Round One to have him ready for their Round Two clash against the Storm.

Wing/centre Nathan Lawson is still on the mend after sustaining a foot injury.

The club are yet to announce a timeline on when Connor Muhleisen will return after the hooker ruptured his ACL in the club’s NSW Cup grand final last year.

Injury List

• Jacob Liddle (hamstring)
• Nathan Lawson (foot)
• Dylan Egan (ACL)
• Connor Muhleisen (ACL)

Looking to make their 10th finals series in a row, the Tricolours will be hoping to stay clear of as many injuries as possible.

But after their Round 1 loss to the Warriors, their injury list has grown by a fair bit.

The Chooks have suffered a brutal blow ahead of their season opener with hooker Reece Robson suffering a broken thumb. He will be sidelined for a maximum of two months following surgery.

Following a strong 2025, which saw him make his Origin debut, Robert Toia would sustain a foot injury while playing for Tonga in the Pacific Championships. He is likely to either feature in their last pre-season match or in Round One.

Whilst over in Vegas for the NRL 9s tournament, emerging five-eighth Jake Elliott would injure his hamstring with a return date yet to be confirmed.

He's not the only half having injury issues at the Roosters.

Hugo Savala is nearing a return for the Roosters after suffering from a syndesmosis injury.

As is wing/centre Tommy Talau after injuring his knee last week in the NSW Cup match against the Warriors, despite not making contact. A timeline for his return will become clearer following an assessment of his right knee.

NSW representative Spencer Leniu won't be playing his first match until April after picking up a hamstring injury during the team warm-up.

While Rex Bassingthwaighte is out after getting a fractured wrist.

Injury List

• Reece Robson (thumb)
• Rob Toia (foot)
• Jake Elliott (shoulder)
• Hugo Savala (syndesmosis)
• Spencer Leniu (hamstring)
• Tommy Talau (knee)
• Rex Bassingthwaighte (wrist)

After a tumultuous off-season, which saw fans protest the actions of the Holman Barnes Group, the club will be hoping that it can be placed in the rearview mirror with a good start.

It’s a mostly healthy list for the Tigers, with Latu Fainu being the main injury concern. After injuring his shoulder in the side’s final game of the season against the Titans, the talented 20-year-old required a full reconstruction in the off-season, which will see him miss the early rounds of the season.

Kai Pearce-Paul will have to wait a little longer before he makes his debut in orange, black and white. Having moved from the Knights during the off-season, the English international was pulled from their match against the Panthers with some calf tightness. With the Round 1 bye, he's set to be ready for their first match of the season against the North Queensland Cowboys.

Kit Laulilii was also a late out for their last pre-season match having entered HIA protocols.

Injury List

• Latu Fainu (shoulder)
• Kit Laulilii (concussion)
• Kai Pearce-Paul (calf)