Brisbane’s star duo Payne Haas and Reece Walsh may return from injury before the end of the season the Broncos have revealed.
Haas picked up a Lisfranc injury against the Titans in Round 22 and it was initially believed he’d miss the rest of the regular season, but with the Broncos still hanging onto a finals spot after the win over the Cowboys, the gun prop could return late in the season.
Walsh meanwhile, toughed it out and played through a hand fracture he suffered in the first half of the Cowboys win.
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Walsh is set to have surgery on his hand this week according to Broncos Head of Performance David Ballard.
“Reece will have surgery on his hand this week with a return date dependant on how he recovers,” Ballard said via a club-issued statement.
“Payne had a positive result from his testing and will now move into a more intensive training program.
“Both Reece and Payne will approach their rehab with a view to returning this season.”
Following this weekend’s bye, the Broncos have three games left to try and earn an unlikely top eight spot.
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CLEARY SET TO RETURN IN TIME FOR FINALS
The Panthers have received welcome news with star halfback Nathan Cleary avoiding surgery and expected to be fit for the NRL finals after he was forced off the field with an injured shoulder late in his side’s loss to the Storm.
Cleary grimaced in pain after being tackled and looked in obvious discomfort when getting to his feet, favouring his left shoulder.
Penrith released a statement on Friday confirming Cleary experienced a recurrence of the shoulder instability he had earlier in the year but that he would not require immediate surgery.
“The positive outcome is that the club plans to have Nathan available for the NRL Finals,” the statement read.
Cleary had surgery on his right shoulder in 2021. On this occasion it was the left shoulder giving him agony, with coach and father Ivan Cleary also revealing in his post-game press conference that it was a “reoccurrence” of an injury the Panthers halfback suffered in the pre-season.
“He hurt it in the pre-season and had some trouble with it early in the year and throughout the hamstring injuries, he got on top of it (the shoulder) but it’s a reoccurrence,” Cleary said.
“I’m concerned. It’s bad enough for him to come off.
“We’ll organise scans tomorrow and until we get those in, we’ll be in a better position to steer our way forward but it’s obviously a concern.
“He’s in better shape than he was when he did his hammy. I hope that’s good news but what do you do? It’s just one of those years.”
Post-game, cameras showed Nathan and Ivan in a sombre mood in the Penrith sheds while discussing the injury.
Cleary was playing in just his 10th game this season, having missed much of the season with a hamstring injury.
The two-time Clive Churchill Medal winner missed several games at the back end of the 2021 season with a shoulder injury but returned in time for the finals.
Ivan consoles Nathan after shoulder blow | 04:01
TIGERS GUN SHUT DOWN FOR SEASON
The Wests Tigers season from hell has received another harpoon with star fullback Jahream Bula expected to miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
The Daily Telegraph reports the 22-year-old was sent for surgery on Thursday for repairs to his labrum which required arthroscopic repair.
Bula was seen clutching at his shoulder in Sunday’s 34-18 loss to the Knights.
He is expected to be sidelined for up to three months with the No. 1 to be in a sling for six weeks.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall will likely opt to bring in rookie Heath Mason as his replacement, while Adam Doueihi is also an option.
Bula has made 21 appearances for the Tigers this year, scoring 10 tries, after debuting for the club in Round 8 against Manly in 2023.
The Tigers are on track to claim their third successive wooden spoon after winning just four games this season.
INJURED IN ROUND 24
Nathan Cleary (shoulder – TBC)
FULL CASUALTY WARD
BRONCOS
Payne Haas (foot, Round 26-27)
Reece Walsh (wrist, Round 26-27
Jack Gosiewski (arm, finals)
Ben Te Kura (lisfranc, indefinite)
Ezra Mam (ankle, season)
Jock Madden (hamstring, TBC)
RAIDERS
Jordan Rapana (head knock, Round 25)
Nick Cotric (ankle, TBC)
Pasami Saulo (back, season)
Zac Hosking (shoulder, season)
Corey Harawira-Naera (seizure/medical, indefinite)
BULLDOGS
Blake Taaffe (ankle, finals)
Max King (wrist, indefinite)
Karl Oloapu (neck, indefinite)
Ryan Sutton (knee, season)
SHARKS
Nicho Hynes (ankle, Round 26)
Kade Dykes (knee, 2025)
DOLPHINS
Jeremy Marshall-King (foot, Round 25)
Mark Nicholls (head knock, Round 25)
Tom Flegler (shoulder, season)
Tom Gilbert (knee, season)
Euain Aitken (pec, season)
TITANS
Sam Verrills (foot, TBC)
AJ Brimson (groin, Round Round 23)
Harley Smith-Shields (hamstring, Round 25)
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (knee, 2025)
SEA EAGLES
Jake Arthur (foot, 2025)
STORM
Xavier Coates (hamstring, Round 23-25)
Christian Welch (back, Round 25)
Bronson Garlick (back, TBC)
Jonah Pezet (knee, 2025)
KNIGHTS
Bradman Best (hamstring, TBC)
Enari Tuala (calf, TBC)
COWBOYS
Jake Granville (pectoral, TBC)
Jason Taumalolo (cheekbone, TBC)
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (Achilles, TBC)
Coen Hess (knee, 2025)
Zac Laybutt (knee, 2025)
EELS
J’maine Hopgood (back, 2025)
Arthur Miller-Stephen (knee, 2025)
Bailey Simonsson (knee, 2025)
Junior Paulo (foot, 2025)
PANTHERS
Paul Alamoti (forearm, TBC)
Jesse McLean (collarbone, Round 26)
RABBITOHS
Cody Walker (calf, TBC)
Dean Hawkins (quad, Round 23)
Latrell Mitchell (foot, Round 23)
Lachlan Ilias (leg, indefinite)
Tyrone Munro (collarbone, 2025)
Campbell Graham (sternum, 2025)
Jai Arrow (shoulder, 2025)
Alex Johnston (Achilles, 2025)
DRAGONS
Mathew Feagai (concussion, Round 23)
Cody Ramsey (illness, indefinite)
Corey Allan (knee, 2025)
ROOSTERS
Lindsay Collins (concussion, TBC)
Dom Young (hamstring, TBC)
Nat Butcher (rib, TBC)
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (suspension, Round 25)
Billy Smith (ankle, indefinite)
Egan Butcher (knee, 2025)
WARRIORS
Dylan Walker (concussion, TBC)
Jackson Ford (knee, TBC)
Marcelo Montoya (groin, Round 23)
Adam Pompey (knee, Round 25-26)
Rocco Berry (shoulder, indefinite)
Tohu Harris (wrist, 2025)
TIGERS
Latu Fainu (concussion, TBC)
Luke Laulilii (concussion, TBC)
Staford To’a (hamstring, TBC)
Adam Doueihi (rested, Round 22)
Aidan Sezer (suspension, Round 23)
Justin Olam (knee, indefinite)
Junior Tupou (foot, indefinite)
Source Agencies
