Wests Tigers skipper avoids surgery and targets return date
Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau will avoid season-ending chest injury surgery, significantly boosting the JV’s hopes of qualifying for the finals.
Koroisau will miss barely a month after scans revealed what the Tigers described as a “low-grade strain at the muscle tendon junction” in his pectoral muscle, which forced the veteran No 9 player out of action midway through Saturday’s loss against the Dragons.
The Tigers are pushing for a place in the top eight following their shock defeat to St George Illawarra but will be looking for a positive draw in the coming weeks. After hosting the second-placed Warriors in Campbelltown on Friday night, the Tigers will face last-eight teams Canterbury (away), Canberra (away) and Parramatta (home) before the 23rd round.
Koroisau is targeting the Eels game for a return, while playmaker Jarome Luai will return from delayed concussion symptoms against the Warriors. Backrower Samuela Fainu is also trying to recover from a long-term foot injury this week.
Young hooker Josese Lanyon will replace Koroisau at substitute half against the Warriors, with Jock Madden and Latu Fainu on the bench.
The Tigers have fallen to 12th in the standings, four points behind the eighth-placed Rabbitohs, following a series of key injuries and a 2-7 losing streak since beating Canberra at the end of April.
More to come.
Dan Walsh is sports correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
