Injured Gavet to miss six weeks
THE Warriors’ injury woes continue to grow with confirmation prop James Gavet has been sidelined for up to six weeks with a broken arm.
Gavet was sent for x-rays after injuring his right arm during last week’s defeat to the Panthers, which did not detect a break.
However, further x-rays showed a fracture in the radius after he aggravated the injury at training on Wednesday.
His absence comes at the worst possible time for the Warriors, who are fighting to keep their slim playoff hopes alive and are already without senior duo Shaun Johnson (knee) and Ryan Hoffman (foot) as well as Albert Vete (arm), Charlie Gubb (hernia) and Nathaniel Roache (hamstring).
With Gavet out of last night’s crucial clash against the fifth- placed Cowboys, Tongan-born Chris Satae made his NRL debut off the bench in Townsville.
But there can be no understating just how big of a blow Gavet is to the Warriors.
The 27-year-old has been a revelation for the club this season, adding some much needed mongrel to a forward pack which has struggled for consistency.
Since being called up to first grade in round four against the Dragons, Gavet has averaged 112m, 11.5 carries and 21 tackles from 13 games and in May was rewarded with a new two-year deal by the club.
It was a credit to the hard work he put in at the Warriors in what was possibly his last chance in the NRL, having only amassed 14 appearances in total at his previous three clubs, the Bulldogs, Tigers and Broncos, after injuries and off-field distractions stunted his progress.
Meanwhile, Cronulla’s top-four NRL hopes have been dealt a massive blow, with former Warrior James Maloney to miss at least three weeks with a fractured hand.
The NSWState of Origin playmaker will undergo surgery tomorrow, however Sharks coach Shane Flanagan is hopeful he will only miss three weeks and return well before the finals.
With the Sharks coming to Auckland next Friday, Maloney’s absence is a big boost for the Warriors as they fight to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.