The nib Newcastle Knights have received a double blow ahead of Sunday’s clash with Penrith, with confirmation both Edrick Lee and Danny Levi will not be available for the match.
Injury report: Lee and Levi updates
Lee has failed to fully recover from the broken arm he suffered in the round 15 win over the Broncos, and Knights Head of Physical Performance Balin Cupples insisted he was always in some doubt to return before the end of the season.
“Eddy (Lee), with his broken arm, was always going to be cutting it really fine this time of year,” Cupples said.
“It was always going to be an 11 or 12 week return-to-action and coming into the last game he was probably right on that cusp of returning.
“Due to the current situation and where we’re at, and the significance of Eddy moving forward to us as a club, we wanted to take out that risk and get him moving into the pre-season.”
Levi is another name which won’t feature on the team sheet this weekend, with the crafty No.9 suffering a minor neck injury at training last week.
“So Danny got caught in an awkward incident at training early last week,” Cupples said.
“He’s had some minor neck sprains, so Danny will be unavailable this week.
“It’s not a serious injury, but unfortunately Danny’s finished for the season.”
Watch: Best scores his first NRL try
Injured players and expected return dates:
Edrick Lee (Arm - Season)
Danny Levi (Neck - Season)
Slade Griffin (ACL - Season)
Pasami Saulo (Finger - Season)
Beau Fermor (Knee - Season)
Phoenix Crossland (Foot - Season)
