NRL Injury News Summary – Round 11 

- Melbourne Storm fullback Sua Faalogo failed his HIA and faces scans for a suspected facial fracture after a try-saving collision against Wests Tigers.

- Manly veteran Siosiua Taukeiaho was stretchered off 4 Pines Park with a double break of the tibia and fibula, requiring immediate surgery.

- Queensland and Cowboys playmaker Tom Dearden will undergo syndesmosis surgery and is set to miss 6-8 weeks, putting his entire 2026 State of Origin series in doubt.

- Wests Tigers, Bulldogs and Sea Eagles all confirmed long-term setbacks, with Adam Doueihi (six weeks), Viliame Kikau (12 weeks) and Corey Waddell (12 weeks) joining a swelling NRL Casualty Ward.

Storm Sweating on Faalogo Scans

Melbourne's try-scoring sensation Sua Faalogo was the headline casualty at AAMI Park, failing his HIA and leaving the ground with what coach Craig Bellamy fears could be a fractured cheekbone.

"Worst case scenario, you might have a fractured cheekbone, hopefully it's just a hairline," Bellamy said post-match. 

Utility Tyran Wishart joins him in the casualty ward, facing four to six weeks with a moderate syndesmosis injury picked up against the Dolphins.

Maroons Sweat on Dearden as Origin Looms

Queensland's Origin preparations have been rocked. Tom Dearden will go under the knife to repair the syndesmosis injury he carried through golden point against the Eels, ruling him out of Game I and Game II at minimum.

The Cowboys halfback joins teammates Soni Luke (high-grade MCL, one month) and Jeremiah Nanai (shoulder, at least a month) on a North Queensland injury list that's testing the club's depth.

For the Rabbitohs, superstar Latrell Mitchell is also in serious doubt for Origin I at Accor Stadium on May 27 after being scratched with a back complaint. Souths will be without him for up to two weeks.

Manly Stretcher Drama and Broncos Boost

The most distressing scenes of the round came at 4 Pines Park, where Siosiua Taukeiaho was carted off with a horror double leg break sustained while scoring against the Broncos.

"It's devastating, a double break of the leg. The tibia and the fibula," interim coach Kieran Foran confirmed. He'll undergo surgery immediately.

Brisbane's news was brighter, with veteran halfback Ben Hunt cleared to return from a knee injury. 

However, outside back Deine Mariner remains a major concern after undergoing limb-saving surgery for acute compartment syndrome in his right thigh, with the recovery timeline unclear.

Long-Term Blows Pile Up

The list of extended layoffs continued to grow:

- Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers) – dislocated shoulder, six weeks

- Samuela Fainu (Wests Tigers) – foot, 12 weeks

- Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs) – post-surgery on pectoral, up to 12 weeks

- Corey Waddell (Sea Eagles) – pectoral surgery, up to 12 weeks

- Simi Sasagi (Raiders) – AC joint

- Siale Faeamani (Titans) – MCL strain, three to four weeks

Cronulla co-captain Blayke Brailey is sweating on an exemption to keep his 139-game streak alive after entering HIA protocols, while Dragons’ duo Valentine Holmes (shoulder) and Mat Feagai (back) head for scans.

In sadder news, Dolphins forward Daniel Saifiti announced his medical retirement after failing to recover from the shoulder injury suffered in Round 8 of 2025.