A tough weekend on the park had even larger implications for the Newcastle Knights, with Mitchell Pearce and Edrick Lee ruled out of Origin 2 after picking up injuries in Round 14.
The Captain received a phone call from Brad Fittler on Saturday night, and was expected to be named in the Blues side on Sunday evening. Unfortunately a leg cork and hip flexor tightness, which was picked up on assessment on Sunday morning has ruled him out.
Injury Report: Pearce, Lee, Guerra and Klemmer
Head of Physical Performance, Balin Cupples stated that whilst the injuries are not of huge concern, they would have affected his ability to train and prepare during the week.
"With limited preparation, it would have been difficult for him to go into Origin and take control," said Cupples.
"He has been playing through some hip-flexor tightness the past few weeks, so if you put that and the cork injury together, he potentially won't be available."
When Freddy called, we were waiting
In another blow for the Origin sides, Edrick Lee has been forced to pull out after being named in the extended squad for the Maroons.
"Disappointingly for Edrick, he was really excited by the opportunity," Cupples said.
"Edrick has been carrying a minor rectus femoris strain for the last couple of weeks,"
"We had always pencilled in this window to get it right, through a heavy rehabilitation phase and then build his running back in."
Ahead of schedule, Aidan Guerra made a return to the paddock on the weekend, playing 80 minutes in Canterbury Cup.
"Aidan has been going phenomenally with his rehab," Cupples explained.
It has been an outstanding effort form both him and the medical team to get him up and moving as quick as they have,"
"With the bye this week we will continue his running through this period,and he should be available for the Broncos game."
David Klemmer's return is one Knights fans are looking forward to, and excitingly the monstrous forward is leaving no stone unturned in his rehab phase.
"He hasn't missed a beat," said Cupples.
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"As expected, Dave has ripped into his rehab and is building his strength work back into his wrist,"
"He has jumped straight into his running, and will be running three times this week, and will build into some skills at the back end of this week,"
"Next week he will have a follow-up scan, and that will tell us where he can go with his contact and further progressions from there."
Injured players and expected return dates:
Mitchell Pearce (Hip and Leg – Round 15)
Edrick Lee (Leg – Round 15)
Josh King (Leg - Round 15)
Slade Griffin (ACL - Late season)
Danny Levi (Ankle - Round 16-18)
David Klemmer (Wrist - Round 16-18)
