Roosters crisis worsens with hooker's gruesome eye injury
The injury crisis at the already battered Roosters has worsened, with hooker Sam Verrills ruled out of action with a gruesome eye complaint.
Verrills had only just returned from an ACL injury two weeks ago but has been forced onto the sidelines again due to a semi-detached retina.
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The 22-year-old played 50 minutes against Newcastle in Saturday night's 38-4 victory in just his second game back.
However, after missing most of the 2020 season, the eye injury is the latest setback for the young hooker who has been added to the club's worrying casualty ward.
The Roosters have not yet confirmed a time-frame for Verrills' recovery but Ben Marschke has been named at No.9 to face the Eels at Bankwest Stadium.
It comes after Brett Morris and Lindsay Collins were both ruled out for the rest of the season with ACL injuries.
The Roosters now have at least eight starting NRL players unavailable this weekend with four - Morris, Collins, Jake Friend (retired) and Luke Keary (ACL) - ruled out for the rest of the year.
Matt Ikuvalu has been named on the wing to replace Morris while skipper James Tedesco is set to make his return after missing last week with a concussion.
Teen sensation Joseph Suaalii has been named on the extended bench and remains an option to make his NRL debut.
"It's a bit of a challenge but we'll get through it," said veteran Roosters forward Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
"Someone will step in this week and do a good job for us and it's exciting.
"It's exciting for guys like Ikuvalu to get more footy, Joe Suaalii to possibly get a debut, so these guys are itching and they're keen to be playing some footy."
Injuries force several Round 9 reshuffles
Parramatta have named lock Nathan Brown to start despite suffering a painful hip pointer injury in Saturday's win over the Bulldogs.
The NSW Origin forward went down in agony after copping a knee to his hip and it was feared he could miss significant game time.
Elsewhere, the Dragons will be without star centre Zac Lomax for at least a few weeks after he dislocated his finger.
The club is yet to finalise his return-to-play schedule after the rising star met with specialists on Tuesday.
In a positive sign for the club, winger Cody Ramsay will be monitored for a rib cartilage injury after he was named to play against Canterbury on Sunday.
Elsewhere, South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett was forced to change his backline for Thursday night's clash with Melbourne.
Adam Reynolds is facing four weeks on the sidelines with a thumb ligament injury, while Cameron Murray (ankle) and Campbell Graham (hand) will both miss a month.
Winger Jaxon Paulo also underwent surgery on Tuesday on a fractured thumb and will be out for up to eight weeks.
Benji Marshall is set to start in the halves alongside Cody Walker against the Storm, with Alex Johnston moving to fullback and Steven Marsters and Taane Milne on the wings.
The Manly Sea Eagles have also suffered a double blow, with props Josh Aloiai and Martin Taupau both set to miss Sunday's game against the Warriors at Lottoland.
Aloiai is facing three months on the sidelines with a wrist injury that was aggravated in Saturday's loss to Penrith.
The ex-Wests Tigers forward has been battling with a sore wrist for the past few weeks but Manly physio James Rahme said Aloiai was in increasing pain after playing 48 minutes against the Panthers.
Should Aloiai undergo surgery as expected, he would not be fit to return to to the field until at least round 20.
Fellow prop Taupau is also set to miss Sunday's clash as he recovers from a concussion.
In their place coach Des Hasler has named Sean Keppie and Taniela Paseka to start in the front row.
with Yahoo Sport Australia staff
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