Young Richard Penisini of the Parramatta Eels will be sidelined for the whole 2024 NRL season due to an ACL injury.
Penisini, the younger brother of star center Will, will miss nine to twelve months due to the injury, which happened during pre-season training.
If all goes well, he could be ready to go back to pre-season training for the 2025 campaign.
The club has confirmed that the young player has already had surgery and started his rehabilitation program, but it is unclear exactly when the injury occurred.
Penisini, regarded as one of the top young players in Parramatta’s junior system, debuted in the NSW Cup against the Sydney Kings at the end of the 2023 season.
Some even speculated that the young player might have been in line for an NRL debut during the second half of this year’s campaign, given Parramatta’s lack of depth at center and in the backline more generally, as well as some of the struggles Brad Arthur’s team faced in the position throughout the 2023 campaign.
Richard will now need to rehabilitate his knee, therefore that will no longer be the case.
He is already said to have had a major role in brother Will’s decision to re-sign with the team on a long-term contract, even though rugby union expressed interest. Will is a fixture in the first-grade squad.
“Yes, absolutely. Being able to make his club debut is a dream come true for him.
