Richard Peannisini emerging player with the Eels, will be sidelined for the whole 2024 season due to an ACL injury.
For the 18-year-old, who played SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, and made his New South Wales Cup debut last season, it’s a heartbreaking blow.
Before sustaining the injury during practice in December, the young center was expected to have more chances in the Cup this year.
This comes after fellow young talent Arthur Miller-Stephen, who played in the NRL for the first time in the previous season, also sustained an ACL injury that prevented him from playing in the 2024 season.
Penisini has had surgery and started his rehabilitation regimen, according to the Eels.
The team also provided an update on Wiremu Greig (quad) and Ryan Matterson (quad). Matterson has resumed his regular training regimen, and in the upcoming weeks, Greig will follow suit.
Makahesi Makatoa (pectoral), Junior Paulo (toe), Daejarn Asi (finger), and Clint Gutherson (knee) are anticipated to be healthy for Round 1.
Tom Chester, the fullback for the Cowboys, has resumed full training in an effort to be ready for the team’s Pre-Season Challenge games in February.
On January 15, the 22-year-old resumed his regular activities after rupturing his ACL in Round 9 of last year, which occurred fewer than nine months ago.
On the other end of the spectrum, Dragons recruit Corey Allan was confirmed to have sustained an ACL rupture during training on January 11, which comes just one month before the new season begins.
The 25-year-old backline utility will need a knee reconstruction, the club said, and he will miss the entire 2024 season due to the projected nine-month recuperation period.
Shane Flanagan, the head coach of the Dragons, expressed his disappointment, stating that Allan was only signed in mid-December.
“Corey and the club both received terrible news. He was going to strive for a backline debut early in the season, having settled in nicely since joining the team in December,” he stated.
The Bulldogs, however, state that playmaker Karl Oloapu’s projected return date to action is still unknown because the 18-year-old will require spinal fusion surgery in late 2023. Oloapu experienced pain relief following the surgery, according to the club, and a post-surgical assessment is scheduled for a few months from now.
Moving forward While new signing Connor Tracey (leg) has yet to return to full training but is still on schedule to be fit for Round 1 of the new season, Ryan Sutton is getting closer to returning to full training as he recovers from a knee injury.
