Hello and welcome to a new continuing series on this site, where I look at injury news from the past weekend. This week has seen key players from several teams be ruled out for significant amounts of time. If I have missed any key bits of information here, please feel free to send any injury news to gerrimonside@gmail.com, and I will update the page.

Castleford lose Taaffe for the season

In a terrible piece of bad luck for the West Yorkshire outfit, Castleford Tigers today announced that new recruit Blake Taaffe will miss the remainder of the season with a ruptured ACL. The 26-year-old Australian signed for the Tigers in the off-season from the Canterbury Bulldogs, and has only played in their round one defeat to Wigan Warriors.

Castleford Director of Rugby Chris Chester told the club website: “We are heartbroken for Blake. He’s a player who we brought here because we know what he can offer on the field but what he has brought to the squad has been beyond anything we had imagined. He is an incredibly popular member of the squad and a pleasure to be around. Now, we have to put the disappointment and sadness to one side and support Blake through his rehab so we can have him back and raring to go for 2027.”

Head coach Ryan Carr was equally saddened by his new recruit’s injury, saying: “I’m absolutely devastated for Blake. He has been a pivotal force behind the culture we are trying to build here at the club. To know he finished the game with a torn ACL is a testament to how tough he is and how much care his has for his team mates and his club. His team first personality is what we admire about him and he will be continue to be an integral part of our team off the field. His teammates love playing with him, we’re all shattered for him.”

Welsby to miss up to four months

St Helens coach Paul Rowley has confirmed that Jack Welsby will require shoulder surgery and is set to miss up to four months. The 24-year-old fullback was helped from the pitch after separating his shoulder in the act of scoring a try during his team’s defeat to Warrington on Friday night. Medical staff at the stadium could not get the shoulder back into place, so he was taken to a local hospital and is due to undergo surgery on Wednesday.

Welsby joins club captain Matty Lees on the club’s long-term injury list, but in more positive news for Saints fans, Curtis Sironen is set to return to the team this Friday against Leigh. Rowley has options at fullback, with Nene Macdonald, Tristan Sailor, and Harry Robertson all able to cover that position.

Bradford lose two players in a costly Hull loss

Jayden Okunbor & Dan Russell are both set for lengthy spells on the sidelines for Super League newcomers Bradford Bulls following their narrow 27-20 loss to Hull FC this past Saturday. Okunbor limped off in the opening minutes of the club’s first game in Super League since 2014, and Dan Russell followed later in the game, following a controversial tackle from Ligi Sao, who copped a two-game ban as a result.

The length of time the pair will spend on the sideline remains unclear at the time of writing, but both injuries are said to be serious, with results being awaited in the coming days. Andy Ackers also picked up a dead leg in the round one clash, but isn’t set to miss any game time as a result.

Quick Round-Up

• New Catalans recruit Manase Kaho will miss the entire season due to an ACL injury suffered in the pre-season.
• Huddersfield Giants duo Adam Clune & Niall Evalds will miss a few weeks due to calf injuries.
• Hull FC should have Jake Arthur in their team for the trip to Wigan this week, after he missed his team’s first-round win against Bradford. Jed Cartwright could also return following his concussion protocol stand-down.
• Similarly, Dean Hadley has been named in the Hull KR team to face the Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Challenge. The versatile forward was a late withdrawal in round one due to a rib issue.
• Leeds are due to be bolstered by several key returns this weekend, most notably reigning Man of Steel Jake Connor, with Cameron Smith, Keenan Palasia and Jeremiah Mata’utia all possibilities against York. Ash Handley is still recovering from a groin issue and should miss out, however.
• Leigh’s David Armstrong has suffered a setback in his recovery and is now expected back in mid-April.
• Toulouse Olympique’s Calum Gahan is set to miss a few months of action, as he requires foot surgery.
• Tom Johnstone has also recently required surgery, in his case for a knee cartilage issue, and should miss a few weeks.
• Warrington are hoping to have Matty Ashton back in their side soon, following his ACL injury last May. The Wolves also have Arron Lindop and Oli Leyland out with the same issue.
• Wigan’s Oliver Wilson was also struck by an ACL injury in pre-season and will miss the entire 2026 campaign.

Written by Nathan Major (Site editor & Hull KR fan)

Sources: Blake Taaffe:https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article/183/taaffe-suffers-injury-set-back, Jack Welsby: https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/news/paul-rowley-jack-welsby-surgery-1687764, Bradford duo: https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/bradford-bulls-boss-makes-hull-fc-sin-bin-point-amid-two-serious-injury-concerns-112692/, Round-Up: https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/super-league-treatment-room-hull-10817231?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target