Panthers injury curse continues

They may have a new coach for the 2016 NRL season but there appears to be the same injury issues for the Panthers under Anthony Griffin.

News that hooker James Segeyaro will be out for up to eight weeks due to a broken arm suffered in Saturday’s loss to Canberra comes as a significant blow to the Panthers.

Matt Moylan was sidelined from the Raiders’ clash due to a back injury, while Kiwi international Dean Whare was also missing with a calf strain.

The Panthers suffered probably the worst injury toll last season under sacked coach Ivan Cleary.

Moylan, Peter Wallace, Jamie Soward, Matt Moylan, Bryce Cartwright, Brent Kite, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Jamal Idris, Elijah Taylor, Isaac John, George Jennings and Robert Jennings all suffered season ending injuries, while Segeyaro, Whare, Josh Mansour and Nigel Plum all spent significant time on the sidelines.

As a result the Panthers’ season collapsed and they finished just a win above wooden spooners Newcastle.

In 2014, the Panthers also struggled with injury despite making it through to the preliminary final.

Wallace, Taylor, Cartwright and Tyrone Peachey missed large chunks of that season due to injury.

It is something that Griffin will have to become accustomed to.

“The Panthers can confirm that James Segeyaro suffered a fractured arm in yesterday’s clash with the Raiders,” the Panthers said in a statement on Sunday.

“The injury will see Segeyaro sidelined for between 6-8 weeks. It is believed the Panthers hooker suffered the injury in a collision with Raiders forward Kurt Baptiste.”

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