Worst-ever injury crisis? $20 million worth of NRL stars sidelined

The NRL is heading into a round with one of the most expensive injury crises in its modern history, with a whopping $20 million in star power sidelined by injury or suspension ahead of the 2024 competition’s fourth week.

The biggest names include Nathan Cleary (hamstring), Payne Haas (knee), Mitchell Moses (foot), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (anterior cruciate ligament), and Reece Walsh (facial fracture).

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The mounting toll of the fledgling 2024 NRL season has already seen more than 40 players ruled out of availability through the opening 240 minutes of competitive play, and while it’s exciting to see youngsters like Taine Tuaupiki, Brad Schneider, and Blaize Talagi break into starting sides, it’s brutal to see the comp’s stars out of the limelight.

Some clubs have been even more felled than others too, especially the Cronulla Sharks. After a shock upset loss to the Wests Tigers last week, the Sharks now come into round four with a totally decimated forward pack; Dale Finucane, Toby Rudolf, Royce Hunt, Braden Hamlin-Uele, and Briton Nikora are all unavailable.

Elsewhere, the Broncos have lost Walsh and Haas alongside Brendan Piakura—who was injured in training—and have been missing halfback Adam Reynolds up to this week.

The Panthers are missing Cleary as well as Scott Sorensen (knee) and James Fisher-Harris (shoulder).

NRL injury crisis: All the biggest stars out this week

• Josh Addo-Carr $500,000
• Jai Arrow $700,000
• Nathan Cleary $1,300,000
• Lindsay Collins $675,000
• Adam Doueihi $600,000
• Tino Fa’asuamaleaui $1,200,000
• David Fifita $1,000,000
• Dale Finucane $760,000
• James Fisher-Harris $970,000
• Tom Gilbert $600,000
• Campbell Graham $850,000
• Payne Haas $1,000,000
• Corey Harawira-Naera $600,000
• Coen Hess $550,000
• Spencer Leniu $525,000
• Mitch Moses $1,200,000
• Cameron Munster $1,250,000
• Briton Nikora $600,000
• Brendan Piakura $400,000
• Toby Rudolf $550,000
• Jason Saab $350,000
• Alex Twal $400,000
• Reece Walsh $400,000

Also out through injury or suspension are Albert Hopoate, Leo Thompson, Anthony Milford, Karl Oloapu, Royce Hunt, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Matt Lodge, Jesse Colquhoun, Billy Smith, Connelly Lemuelu, Ryan Sutton, Heilum Luki, Poasa Faamausili, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Taine Tuaupiki, and Scott Sorensen.

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Some players have been included on their side’s extended benches, including Addo-Carr and David Fifita, who has yet to play in 2024, but it’s grim reading no matter how you slice it.