Newcastle Knights' coach Nathan Brown provide an injury update as the side builds for its Round 21 match against rivals the Manly Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval.
A blow this week is the loss of five-eighth Jarrod Mullen, who is sidelined for 1-2 weeks with a hamstring injury.
“Anytime you are losing any players from your squad…it’s not something any of us like," Brown said on Tuesday morning.
“It’s not uncommon for someone to reinjure a hamstring injury, it’s just one of those ones unfortunately.
“Mullo has had a bit of a tough run the past three years and sometimes players go through these runs.
“When you are looking at hamstrings, they are an injury that are studied all over the world with many millions of dollars and nobody can actually explain why and how they happen."
Brown said Mullen remains positive and focused on an imminent return to the field.
“He’s disappointed but happy it is only a short term injury,” he added.
“All a player can do is give his best shot at recovery, and if they do that and go out there and things don’t go well, then they shouldn’t be too dark on themselves.
"Mullen got back early from the previous injury and has upset a bit of scar tissue, which is not uncommon.
“To miss long term again would have disappointing but it’s only going to be a one or two week injury."
Brown said Jack Cogger is in the mix as a possible replacement after the young half stepped up to fill the void earlier this season.
“Will Pearsall has been back playing from injury as well so will come into calculations,” he said.
“Jaelen Feeney is going to play his first game back too (this week), so we have a few of those guys back to have a look at as well.”
In addition, hooker Tyler Randell faces another few weeks in recovery after suffering a rib injury in the Knights’ Round 17 match against the Canberra Raiders.
“Tyler is getting closer but is still not quite right yet,” he said.
“Rib cartridge injuries are painful things and until they are right, it’s another knock and we will miss him long term again.
“The original thought process was four or five weeks and it’s has been about three weeks now so is still a couple of weeks away at the minute. “He’s doing as much as he can do.” The Newcastle Knights take on the Manly Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval on Sunday at 4pm.
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