Tonumaipea joins Titans’ casualty list
YOUNG Tonumaipea promising NRL return with Gold Coast is on hold due to a knee injury that could keep him off the track for more than a month.
The centre’s leg twisted awkwardly when he was tackled in Saturday’s loss to St George Illawarra, with scans confirming a grade-two medial ligament injury but importantly no tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
The setback for the 27year-old is a blow for a Titans backline littered with injury concerns, although the club are hopeful of reinforcements to face rivals Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
The Titans have been buoyed by news that new recruit Corey Thompson passed HIA return-to-play protocols and will line up against the Broncos. It was feared Thompson had broken his jaw last weekend against the Dragons after copping a high shot from opposition winger Jordan Pereira.
The struggling Titans side will also be boosted by the return of Tyrone Roberts who is expected to be named today. The experienced utility has been sidelined for the past few weeks with niggling ankle issues.
The loss of Tonumaipea adds to the Gold Coast’s growing casualty ward, which also includes fellow outside backs AJ Brimson, Dale Copley and Jonus Pearson.
The club said Copley is “racing the clock” to be fit to play the Broncos after a injuring an ankle against Souths in Round 5. He will have a searching fitness session today to prove his fitness ahead of the team selection.
Pearson is also in some doubt after suffering a pectoral strain at training last week and will consult specialists to reveal the extent of the injury.
Meanwhile, the Broncos are set to reshuffle their engine room after Patrick Carrigan and Thomas Flegler were both slapped with one-match bans following Thursday’s loss to the Knights.
Both players took the early guilty plea on Sunday after being charged with dangerous contact offences during last week’s 27-6 defeat. Carrigan’s grade two charge was downgraded to a one-match suspension while carry-over points will see Flegler also suspended from this weekend’s clash against the Titans.