The Wests Tigers have received dismal news on the injury front, with both English second-rower John Bateman and outside back Starford To’a expected to miss extended amounts of time.
Bateman has played eight games for the Tigers this season, alternating between the edge and the middle. While his performances have been poor, his absence will result in a severe loss of experience for the youthful Wests Tigers club.
According to News Corp, he will miss eight to ten weeks due to a pectoral muscle injury.
Bateman suffered the injury over the weekend for the Tigers, and the club confirmed on Sunday morning that he will be transported for scans. He has, however, averted a major rupture, which might have delayed his comeback by up to 14 weeks.
In the best-case situation, Bateman may return in Round 18 and before the end of the State of Origin window where he could make an enormous difference for the joint-venture and their finals hopes as opposition sides struggle with players missing.
Bateman would have been expected to stand up as a leader during that time, given Apisai Koroisau’s nearly guaranteed selection by New South Wales Blues coach Michael Maguire.
To’a, in only his second first-grade game of the season, has been ruled out for an undetermined amount of time due to a hamstring injury.
He was hauled off the pitch little than a quarter of an hour into their match against the Knights, which resulted in a disappointing loss for Marshall’s side.
The hamstring injury is thought to be less serious than Nathan Cleary’s, which has sidelined him for eight weeks, but he will still be out of action.
The Tigers are also without Isaiah Papali’i this weekend for their Magic Round encounter against the Dolphins.
Papali’i and Bateman are replaced by Alex Twal and Alex Seyfarth, respectively, while To’a’s absence allows Brent Naden to move into the centres and Solomon Alaimalo to the wing, with Sione Fainu and Asu Kepaoa on the club’s bench.
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