COWBOY GROUNDED O’Neill stays in Canberra after ‘severe’ spleen injury in win
COWBOYS hold serious concerns for star centre Justin O’Neill after he suffered a “severe” spleen injury in the 22-16 win over the Raiders.
O’Neill was admitted to Canberra Hospital and underwent a procedure on Sunday afternoon.
It is understood the centre will remain in Canberra for a week while he recovers.
It was an injury that caught the club off guard after the centre played out the match at GIO Stadium.
It was not discovered until this morning, when O’Neill’s roommate Kyle Feldt began to be concerned about his health.
Coach Paul Green was visibly concerned when he spoke to the media about the centre after the club landed at Townsville airport yesterday afternoon.
“He has had a pretty significant spleen injury that has come out of the game. He is in hospital in Canberra at the moment,” Green said.
“(It was discovered) this morning. He didn’t really have any complaints about it, it wasn’t until early this morning when his roomie (Kyle) Feldty noticed he wasn’t well. Then in the morning when we got up he was crook again so that was when we called the ambulance.
“It’s pretty serious, it is a significant spleen injury.”
North Queensland were unsure about the exact moment in the match it occurred, but believe it might have been when he scored a try in the first half.
O’Neill landed on the knees of Sia Soliola in the act of scoring the try. While there was no penalty blown for Soliola leading with the knees, Green admitted he thought it “looked a bit dangerous”.
It was a hefty blow for the Cowboys, with O’Neill playing in “career best form” over the past month. He has scored eight tries in as many games this season and celebrated his 100th game in Cowboys colours in the win over the Green Machine.
O’Neill was not the only injury concern to come out of the clash for the Cowboys after veteran front-rower Matt Scott was sidelined for most of the match with a suspected shoulder subluxation. Green would not be drawn on the injury to Scott, and said the club would wait for the results of scans he will get tomorrow.