Dom Young spotted in eye-opening scenes at airport amid drama for Roosters

Injured Roosters star Dom Young has been spotted at Sydney airport in a surprise development after reportedly being ruled out of his side's NRL season-opener against Brisbane in Las Vegas. Young was taken to hospital on Saturday after sustaining a “soft tissue” injury to his neck resulting from a crusher tackle by Manly's Toafofoa Sipley, that saw the prop slapped with a three-game ban.

The Roosters revealed that Young was being treated “conservatively” by the club’s medical staff and he is not expected to play a part in the Vegas showdown against the Broncos. However, the 22-year-old was seen walking with his luggage through the international terminal at Sydney airport with the rest of his teammates on Wednesday morning, before they boarded a flight to the United States.

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Sipley issued a heartfelt apology to Young after Saturday's crusher tackle and admitted he'd "robbed" the Roosters winger of a chance to play in Vegas. Young would have been devastated to miss out on the American extravaganza with the rest of his new teammates, which could go some way to explaining why he was included in the Roosters' travelling party.

Suspended Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also flying to Vegas

So too veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who is also flying with the squad to Las Vegas, despite being suspended from the round one game at Allegiant Stadium on March 2 (March 3 AEDT). Waerea-Hargreaves announced on Tuesday that 2024 will be his final season in the NRL, with the Kiwi Test star calling time on a glittering Roosters career that included three premierships.

Waerea-Hargreaves - who will reportedly link up with Super League club Hull KR for one final season in 2025 - was hailed as a club great by coach Trent Robinson following news of his departure at the end of the season. "Jared is the heart and spirit of our club and he is family to the Roosters," Robinson said. "It's been an absolute pleasure to coach someone that plays the game the way he has for more than a decade.

"He has been a huge part of the club's success over the last 15 seasons and there's no question he will go down in history as one of the best forwards to wear the Roosters jersey. Jared is clear and committed to the contribution he wants to make in his final season. We're all very clear on our goal and look forward to sharing the season ahead with Jaz."

Waerea-Hargreaves and Young may not be playing in Vegas but they will both be present at the Roosters' training base at the prestigious University of California (UCLA), before the squad flies into Nevada. Both players are likely to return for the Roosters' round two clash against Manly at 4 Pines Stadium on March 17.

Manly missing two key forwards for Vegas game

The bulk of the Sea Eagles' first grade squad also left Sydney airport on Wednesday for their Las Vegas showdown with the Rabbitohs, albeit via Fiji. Sipley is not travelling with the Sea Eagles squad after his three-match ban, with back-rower Josh Schuster also left off the plane as he recovers from calf soreness. Both would have been almost certain to feature in Manly's 17-man squad for the season-opener against the Rabbitohs.

Schuster has endured a torrid run of misfortune over the pre-season that started with a bout of chickenpox before Christmas and included a finger injury that required surgery in the new year. The talented ball-player was expected to start on an edge for Manly in 2024, but has been unable to play a part in both of Manly's trial games and pulled up with calf soreness after a recent training session.

"The medical staff has said that due to ongoing tightness... we're not comfortable having him return to play and that we want to take a more conservative approach," Seibold explained about Schuster this week. "Josh is only 21 days post initial calf strain, so we won't take him to Las Vegas.

"We will leave him here hoping that he will return in the near future, with the expectation that he will be playing again from round two." The absence of Schuster and Sipley is set to test Manly's squad depth, with Ben Trbojevic expected to start in the back-row and journeyman Nathan Brown among those pushing for a spot in the 17 after earning a top-30 contract in pre-season.

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