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NRL Casualty Ward: Walters suffers ACL injury; Crichton, Montoya named

Author: 820517.com
Timestamp: Wed 17 Sep 2025, 09:46 AM

The Broncos have been dealt a finals blow with utility Billy Walters suffering damage to his ACL in Sunday’s epic qualifying final victory over the Raiders.

said Walters will work with the club’s medical team to assess the next steps in his recovery.

Broncos captain Adam Reynolds is set to return for the preliminary final against either the Bulldogs or Panthers in two weeks after recovering from a hamstring injury suffered against the Storm in Round 23.

Meanwhile, superstar prop Payne Haas has been cleared of any serious injury after he was hampered by an ankle problem in Canberra, while forward Brendan Piakura has had scans on a facial injury.

Piakura played the opening 40 minutes at GIO Stadium but did not return from the sheds after the break amid fears he had suffered a facial fracture.

Forward Xavier Willison has been cleared to return, having recovered from surgery on a fractured forearm he suffered in Round 22, but Pat Carrigan will miss the preliminary final after accepting a one-game ban for a Careless High Tackle on Morgan Smithies.

Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton has been named in the extended squad for this week's sudden-death semi-final against the Panthers despite suffering an ankle injury against the Storm.

Crichton suffered the injury early in the first half and battled on until the 20th minute but eventually succumbed and was replaced by Toby Sexton.

The star centre's season almost certainly looked to be over but he has been named in the 22-man squad along with winger Marcelo Montoya, who is looking to return from an ankle injury.

Centre Enari Tuala is sidelined after suffering a fractured leg but Viliame Kikau has been named to face the Panthers despite initial fears he may have suffered a cheekbone or eye socket fracture last week.

Their opponents Penrith have named hooker Mitch Kenny among the reserves as he looks to overcome the hamstring strain that kept him out of the elimination final win over the Warriors.

The premiership-winning hooker, who was a member of Penrith's 2022, 2023 and 2024 grand final triumphs, came from the field in the second half of the Round 27 win over the Dragons but coach Ivan Cleary said he was being rested.

The injury is considered a week-to-week proposition.

The Sharks have named prop Tom Hazelton in their extended squad for the trip to Canberra after he missed last week's game with a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Melbourne star Jahrome Hughes remains optimistic his season isn't over after undergoing surgery for a fractured forearm.

The Dally M Medallist suffered the injury in his side's Round 27 loss to the Broncos. It was his first game back from a dislocated shoulder.

The halfback is hopeful of making a shock return in the preliminary final, should the Storm progress that far.

"The medical team's given me a slight chance," Hughes said on Channel 9 before Melbourne's qualifying final against the Bulldogs. "I'm holding on to a very little bit of a chance and we'll see how we go.

"It wasn't ideal breaking my forearm in my first game back but the medical team have given me a slight chance to play the prelim and even the grand final. I'll be doing everything I can to get back out there."

Meanwhile, Dolphins superstar Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will miss the Pacific Championships after suffering a grade-three MCL injury in Sunday's game against the Raiders.

Tabuai-Fidow is expected to be sidelined for approximately eight weeks, ruling him out of the tournament that kicks off on October 18.

The 'Hammer' had been linked with a move back to Samoa for the Pacific Championships and he was also in consideration for the Kangaroos squad to play England in the Ashes.

Also out of the Pacific Championships are Tonga duo Haumole Olakau’atu and Taniela Paseka.

Olakau'atu continues to rehab after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction and is expected to be back to full contact in January while Paseka has completed a six-month rehabilitation program following surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon and is expected to commence pre-season training in November.

The Sea Eagles pair played all three matches for Tonga in last year's Pacific Championships, with Olakau'atu scoring a try against Australia in the final.

Also at Manly, Nathan Brown has fully recovered after surgery to repair a ruptured bicep and will be fit to commence pre-season training in November as will Jake Trbojevic, who missed the last four games due to repeated concussions.

To view the complete NRL Casualty Ward, please visit the hub page.