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Josh Aloiai is the latest player to join the casualty list for Samoa, having to leave the field during his side’s 72-4 win over Greece suffering from a suspected dislocated knee.
“He’s not great. Early [signs] maybe a dislocated kneecap,” said Samoan coach Matt Parish.
“He’s in a bit of pain and in a leg brace… doesn’t look promising at the moment.”
Samoa are already without Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Braden Hamlin-Uele and Tyrone May.
Tabuai-Fidow suffered a syndesmosis injury and Hamlin-Uele a calf injury during the first pool match against England. and have both travelled home to Australia. It is likely that the latest signing for the Dolphins, Tabuai-Fidow, will require surgery which could see him miss the entire pre-season with his new club.
Josh Aloiai with a suspected dislocated right kneecap, nothing obvious on video but knee was already heavily strapped after soft tissue bruising injury earlier this season. If a true dislocation most back in 3-6 weeks if surgery not required #RLWC2021pic.twitter.com/alUeJyBtCf
May suffered a horrendous hip dislocation in the same match. He was taken to hospital to have his hip popped back in and now faces a long recovery.
New Zealand teammates Moses Leota and Marata Niukore will both have scans to determine the severity of their injuries during the Kiwis 68-6 win against Jamaica. Both players missed the second half with Leota suffering from a hamstring injury and Niukore a pectoral injury.
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Coach Michael Maguire is not confident that either will play in New Zealand’s next match against Ireland.
“Both Marata and Moses, we will have to get them scanned first to find out the severity of it, but I think they might miss one or two [games],” said Maguire.
The Kiwis were already without Dylan Brown who was ruled out pre-match due to illness, and Jahrome Hughes who was still suffering from a quad injury and was given another week to rest.
Xavier Coates has been ruled out for the rest of the World Cup after succumbing to a hamstring injury. Coates missed the first pool match for PNG with the hope that he would be fit to return during the tournament
Australia
Reuben Cotter (concussion – due to return for third group game)
Murray Taulagi (nose – due to return for third group game)
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Tyrone May is treated by medical staff before being stretchered off during Rugby League World Cup (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Cook Islands
Steven Marsters (knee – TBC)
England
Kallum Watkins (failed HIA – due to return week one final)
Greece
Jordan Meads (illness – TBC)
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Lebanon
Adam Doueihi (suspended – due to return for third group game )
New Zealand
Dylan Brown (illness – TBC)
Jahrome Hughes (quad – due to return for third group game)
