General Warriors Injury Thread 2026

[wizard of Tauranga]

If I recall correctly we had zero ACLs in Alex Corvo's two year period. Maybe he was ahead of his time & knew more than the majority of the strength & conditioning community

Quick search for Warriors ACL injuries in the last 10 years:

RTS 2016
Johnson 2017
Junior Pauga 2017
Nate Roache 2019 (Corvo 2018/19 years)
Bunty 2020
Jackson Frei 2020
Milne 2020
Tohu Harris 2021
Tom Ale 2022
Vaimauga 2023
Barnett 2025
Metcalf 2025
Boyd 2026
RTS 2026

 

[Cces]

Johnson 2017

This was a PCL.
I stand corrected though. Corvo's time wasn't completely ACL free

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

This was a PCL.
I stand corrected though. Corvo's time wasn't completely ACL free

Pretty good record relative to the years following through…

None in Corvos 2019 year the three the year he’s replaced.

Can never tell how much is luck though.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Quick search for Warriors ACL injuries in the last 10 years:

RTS 2016
Johnson 2017
Junior Pauga 2017
Nate Roache 2019 (Corvo 2018/19 years)
Bunty 2020
Jackson Frei 2020
Milne 2020
Tohu Harris 2021
Tom Ale 2022
Vaimauga 2023
Barnett 2025
Metcalf 2025
Boyd 2026
RTS 2026

I was thinking the bigger stepping players could be more likely to do ACL’s, but a pretty significant mix of forwards in there. The more weight the more stress?

 

[John Nick]

I was thinking the bigger stepping players could be more likely to do ACL’s, but a pretty significant mix of forwards in there. The more weight the more stress?

There was a survey over a number of years & it was the middles who were most affected due to more contact.

 

[Inruin]

I was thinking the bigger stepping players could be more likely to do ACL’s, but a pretty significant mix of forwards in there. The more weight the more stress?

Players getting bigger, heavier and faster. Sudden stopping, changes of direction, stepping etc put huge stress on. Add in an uneven surface.....

 

[CWC]

Just keep watching Linnane's defence in cup (only one game at center). Any player that is good (not just solid, actually a good defender) in the NSW cup can debut in the NRL by my own yardstick (provided the other parts of their game are sound and they are physically coping with the big men in cup).

Touch wood, so far he is a solid prospect to go up, last week the Dragons couldn't score down that edge till Linnane was pulled and put on cotton wool - they scored twice after Linnnane was out of the left side chain, and Adam Pompey was part of the fail on that edge in that last quarter (he is getting the NRL player treatment with the management of his recovery, a cup player would just be left to jog around the last quarter). The Storm didn't score down Linnane's side either (although they were horrible all round - only managed one try on the opposite side, but again that was after Linnane exited the field).

Our cup side has a far more robust looking defence with him in that team and it is clear he is getting cotton wool star treatment out there (Like Manu Vatuvei was given in the juniors as a 16yo teenager, packed in cotton wool - I mention him because he is the earliest I have seen a Warriors outfit do it).

I'd say with a few more injuries Linnane comes into calculation.

Well if Berry continues to delay and 1 of our centres get injured, he's the next legit back in line unless they go to Leka/Cape again, or CNK

 

[Piltdown Man]

In regards to the ACL, it’s bad enough we have them but they are consistently to our most valuable players!

Why can’t we get ACL’s happening to our 20-30th players instead of top 5 all the time!

… not that we want any ACL’s of course.

I know it was just-jokes... but I gotta say you feel for those guys like Nat Roache or Volkman trying to get their career going ... or even Rocco .... but sure for us fans losing our stars hurts.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

The Super Round for Super Rugby had just as many games on the same ground on a short span of time as was the case for Magic Round. I don't recall there being an outbreak of serious injuries during Super Round. Scary thing is we return two more times to Suncorp this year (v Dolphins in rd 17 and v Broncos in rd 24).I sincerely hope that Mets/TMM do not get taken out for the season in one or both of those games.

Tanah Boyds ACL was contributed to by a poor Suncorp surface that had too many games on it over a short period that cannot be blamed on the ckub.

Pompey is Mr reliable. He wilk do the job. Also solves goal kicking. Berry hioefully will return this week in Cup. I dont think the naming requirements from FG are required in Cup.

The kicking situation is what it is. The old adage that a kick is only as good as the chase applies.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Just keep watching Linnane's defence in cup (only one game at center). Any player that is good (not just solid, actually a good defender) in the NSW cup can debut in the NRL by my own yardstick (provided the other parts of their game are sound and they are physically coping with the big men in cup).

Touch wood, so far he is a solid prospect to go up, last week the Dragons couldn't score down that edge till Linnane was pulled and put on cotton wool - they scored twice after Linnnane was out of the left side chain, and Adam Pompey was part of the fail on that edge in that last quarter (he is getting the NRL player treatment with the management of his recovery, a cup player would just be left to jog around the last quarter). The Storm didn't score down Linnane's side either (although they were horrible all round - only managed one try on the opposite side, but again that was after Linnane exited the field).

Our cup side has a far more robust looking defence with him in that team and it is clear he is getting cotton wool star treatment out there (Like Manu Vatuvei was given in the juniors as a 16yo teenager, packed in cotton wool - I mention him because he is the earliest I have seen a Warriors outfit do it).

I'd say with a few more injuries Linnane comes into calculation.

I'm not comfortable with anyone making an NRL debut until they have had at least an entire year in cup playing against men. Him, Bishop and Jett have to be 2027 prospects, not this year. The biggest mistake we made in the pre-webby era when the u20s still existed was to promote guys like the Flying Fish, Kevin Locke and Hurrell straight from u20s into first grade without enough reps in the cup system. In hindsight it ruined their development for years to come and perhaps even their careers.

 

[Cces]

The Super Round for Super Rugby had just as many games on the same ground on a short span of time as was the case for Magic Round.

Super Rugby had just 5 games. All under a roof

 

[sup42]

I'm not comfortable with anyone making an NRL debut until they have had at least an entire year in cup playing against men. Him, Bishop and Jett have to be 2027 prospects, not this year. The biggest mistake we made in the pre-webby era when the u20s still existed was to promote guys like the Flying Fish, Kevin Locke and Hurrell straight from u20s into first grade without enough reps in the cup system. In hindsight it ruined their development for years to come and perhaps even their careers.

Deleted my posts, just realised I was going off topic in the injury thread (apologies).

 

[Sammyw]

Super Rugby had just 5 games. All under a roof

and rugby union these days is generally far slower. these 6 agains and the speed of the game in league will result in increased injuries

 

[WAH MAN]

Super Rugby had just 5 games. All under a roof

Maybe Suncorp stadium needs a really big blue tarp?

 

[CWC]

Still pretty amazing we smashed them at Suncorp after losing our general. That never happens for us

 

[Defence]

I believe league has a slightly higher rate of acl injuries than union but soccer tops them both.

 

[Inruin]

I believe league has a slightly higher rate of acl injuries than union but soccer tops them both.

Netball is bad too

Netball has a high incidence of ACL injuries, with 80% being non-contact, often resulting from rapid deceleration, pivoting, and improper landings. ACL injuries represent roughly 17-25% of all major netball injuries, mostly affecting women aged 10-19. Prevention programmes like NetballSmart can reduce these injuries by up to 50%.


Key Causes and Risk Factors:
Landing & Pivoting: The "one-step" rule and pivoting motions create immense pressure on the knee.
Non-Contact Mechanisms: ~80% of injuries occur without direct impact, caused by turning, landing, or stopping suddenly.
High-Risk Age Group: 10 to 19-year-old females are at the highest risk, with a 120% increase in ACL reconstructions reported in this group in some studies.
Inward Knee Collapse: ACL rupture often occurs when the knee collapses inward (valgus position).

 

[Blain]

You're right about the MRI scans Sup. But on the operation for Boyd, it's very normal for ACL surgery not to happen so soon after the injury. Surgeons prefer the swelling and inflammation to settle first and want the knee moving properly again before operating, otherwise the risk of long-term stiffness and scar tissue increases. Tannah would be going through a short prehab phase now with the goal to reduce swelling, regain range of motion and get the quad firing properly again. That can easily take 2-4 weeks.

Saw him post on Instagram yesterday, pretty sure he has had surgery already. Great start to recovery I guess to have it so fast.

 

[CWC]

Netball is bad too

Netball has a high incidence of ACL injuries, with 80% being non-contact, often resulting from rapid deceleration, pivoting, and improper landings. ACL injuries represent roughly 17-25% of all major netball injuries, mostly affecting women aged 10-19. Prevention programmes like NetballSmart can reduce these injuries by up to 50%.


Key Causes and Risk Factors:
Landing & Pivoting: The "one-step" rule and pivoting motions create immense pressure on the knee.
Non-Contact Mechanisms: ~80% of injuries occur without direct impact, caused by turning, landing, or stopping suddenly.
High-Risk Age Group: 10 to 19-year-old females are at the highest risk, with a 120% increase in ACL reconstructions reported in this group in some studies.
Inward Knee Collapse: ACL rupture often occurs when the knee collapses inward (valgus position).

Girls have more laxity in the ligaments which doesn’t help

 

[Bay39er]

Girls have more laxity in the ligaments which doesn’t help

What a sexy way of saying…..