Eels face injury crisis after NRL loss

Parramatta are facing an early-season injury crisis after copping a battering in Friday night’s 32-12 NRL loss to Canterbury.

Blockbusting winger Semi Radradra and new centre Beau Champion both suffered knee injuries. Radradra is set for a month on the sidelines with a medial problem, while Champion’s diagnosis could be worse.

Chris Sandow went down with an ankle injury in the first half and returned to the fray after the break courtesy of a painkilling injection. But the playmaker is also in doubt for the Eels’ round-three clash with the Warriors next Saturday in Auckland.

To make matters worse for Eels coach Brad Arthur, young back-rower Tepai Moeroa is nursing an ongoing shoulder problem that has made him a week-to-week proposition.

“It’s pretty bad, I think,” Arthur said of the Eels’ injury dramas.

“We need to get some reports done but Beau Champion doesn’t look good, Semi doesn’t look good and, once Chrissy’s needle wears off, that is probably not going to look good.

“It was a tough night but we just have to front up next week.”

However, Anthony Watmough, also suffering a badly lacerated knee requiring stitches, is likely to make the trek across the Tasman to face the Warriors.

Parramatta’s depth is being sorely tested after Junior Paulo was outed for nine weeks at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night for a dangerous throw. His fellow interchange forward Pauli Pauli is also set to spend a similar time on the sidelines with a knee issue.

One positive for Arthur was the form of Danny Wicks in his first game in the NRL for five years.

The former Newcastle forward carried the ball strongly 15 times for 147m and made 16 tackles.

“I thought he was great,” Arthur said.

“I thought he carried the ball strongly with good leg speed, he worked hard for a play the ball for us and, defensively, he kept filling the space for us.

“He probably got more minutes because of the circumstances than we planned and I thought he did OK.”

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