St Helens forward Batchelor facing four weeks out
Joe Batchelor has joined the growing injury list at St Helens ahead of Friday's Super League fixture against Leeds Rhinos with the forward facing four weeks out with a calf tear.
Head coach Paul Wellens confirmed a scan on the forward had delivered the bad news following Batchelor's exit from the field against Salford Red Devils.
Advertisement
"On the physio's first look we were expecting it to be worse so we will take a little bit of comfort in that, but he could be out for four weeks," Wellens said.
Saints are also sweating on the fitness of fellow forward Curtis Sironen, who left the field against Salford after suffering back spasms.
Wellens will give Sironen until the "11th hour" to prove his fitness but admitted that the "signs are not looking good".
Saints are also without half-back and kicker George Whitby after he failed a head injury assessment in Greater Manchester.
"He is recovering well and ticking the boxes. Once he is back fit and firing he can be a very important player for us," Wellens added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Jimmy Graham's signature touchdown dunk is the Saints Play of the Day
Jimmy Graham's signature touchdown dunk is the Saints Play of the Day We're at Day 80 in our countdown to the New Orleans Saints' 2025 season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, which means one of the signature plays from No. 80's career is an easy choice for the Saints Play of the Day. Go back to 2013 and you'll find this moment from Jimmy Graham stands the test of time. Facing a 10-7 deficit midway through the second quarter against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons, Graham scored a 44-yard touchdown for the Saints and threw down afterwards with his signature celebration. Or went up, rather. A former college basketball player with the Miami Hurricanes, Graham was known for getting up high and slamming the ball over the goalpost after a big play. And what goes up must come down. When Graham leapt to dunk the football over the dirty birds' goalpost, he bent the crossbar out of alignment, which led to a delay in play while the field crew hurried to rebalance it. You can see the full sequence for yourself here. It was a fun moment for Saints fans, and embarrassing for Falcons faithful, but there were some unexpected reactions to this incident. The NFL later outlawed goalpost celebrations like Graham's dunk, making it a 15-yard penalty and $5,600 fine for first-time offenders. For his part, Graham wears it like a badge of honor.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Warrington Wolves boss makes Tom Whitehead admission and recruitment hint
Tom Whitehead is the subject of interest from Hull KR but will spend the next month on loan at Salford Red Devils (Image: Allan McKenzie/ SAM Burgess has admitted that, while he values him highly as a player, he may have to let Tom Whitehead leave Warrington Wolves. The loose forward is the subject of strong interest from Super League leaders and Challenge Cup winners Hull KR, who are believed to have had a transfer bid accepted for his services. Advertisement Whitehead's immediate future lies at Salford Red Devils, with the 22-year-old having joined Super League's bottom club on a four-week loan alongside teammate Dan Russell as part of the deal that brought Sam Stone to Warrington. Longer-term, however, the academy graduate's future appears to lie elsewhere despite him being under contract with The Wire until the end of next year. Having progressed through the club's academy, Whitehead has made 11 first-team appearances – two of which have come this season – while he has also spent several spells out on loan. This season alone, he has turned out for London Broncos, Keighley Cougars and Halifax Panthers as well as the Wire reserves but a more permanent departure looks to be in the offing after Burgess admitted he currently struggles to see a path to more regular first-team opportunities for him at The Halliwell Jones Stadium. Read more Sam Burgess responds to Sam Stone criticism with Rowley comments addressed Advertisement Devastating Lindop injury news confirmed as Burgess reveals fresh concern Two ticket offers for Warrington Wolves' next home game 'I love Tommy and he's such a great player. I don't know what's out there but I know he's got some interest from other clubs,' he said. 'We value Tommy – he's been at the club since he was 14 and he's a good lad to have around, but sometimes these opportunities can be good for players. 'He's behind a couple of players at 13 here so if opportunities do arise for him, he'll take them. 'We do value him and he's a great lad but we've been pretty open about everything with him. Advertisement 'He's at Salford for a month and it will be good for him to get some game time. We've been trying to find that time for him all year but we've not had enough opportunity for him.' Burgess also had his say on the departure of off-season recruit Russell, who will spend the remainder of the season at Salford having played 10 times for Warrington this season. 'It's given him the opportunity to play a bit of first-team. It seemed like the right fit,' the Wire boss said of the back-rower. 'We'll get to see him over a long period of time, which will be good for Dan.' Sam Burgess open to more Warrington Wolves recruitment Stone is the second player Warrington have signed from Salford in-season, with scrum-half Marc Sneyd having made the move in March. Advertisement And although he played down the prospect of anything immediate, Burgess hinted he may not be the last mid-season recruit to arrive. Clubs have until August 1 to add players to their ranks immediately and the Wolves head coach has left the possibility of more arrivals on the table. 'I don't know yet. We've still got a little bit of space so we'll see,' he said when asked about the prospect of further recruitment. 'We're keeping everything open, really. With the way things are going for us this year, we're staying versatile. 'We're not actively looking but there is an opportunity if something arises for us.'
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Moliki Matavao is the Saints Player of Day 80
Countdown to Kickoff: Moliki Matavao is the Saints Player of Day 80 Saints Player of the Day Moliki Matavao faces heavy competition for a roster spot. Today leaves 80 days before the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2025 regular season. New Orleans will start their year, 59th in franchise history, at home against the Arizona Cardinals. After a 5-12 finish last season, it will also be their first year under new head coach Kellen Moore. Rookie tight end Moliki Matavao will be sporting number 80 for the Saints through training camp. If he makes the team and keeps the number into the regular season, Matavao would become the 33rd Saint to don the jersey. Here's a look at his background as our Saints Player of the Day. Name (age): Moliki Matavao (22) Moliki Matavao (22) Hometown: Henderson, Nev. Henderson, Nev. Position: Tight end Tight end Height, weight: 6-foot-6, 260 pounds 6-foot-6, 260 pounds College: UCLA Bruins UCLA Bruins Relative Athletic Score: 6.59 6.59 Drafted: Round 7, 248th overall (Saints) Round 7, 248th overall (Saints) NFL experience: Rookie Rookie 2025 salary cap hit: $865,418 A graduate of Liberty High School in Nevada, Matavao began his collegiate career as a four-star recruit at the University of Oregon. Over two seasons with the Ducks, Matavao caught passes 19 passes for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns. After the 2022 campaign, Matavao would transfer to UCLA. In his first season with the Bruins, Matavao put up similar numbers with 14 receptions and 2 scores, but an explosive 283 yards and over 20 yards per catch. Last season was Matavao's most productive, pulling in 41 passes for 506 yards to lead the Bruins in both categories. New Orleans selected Matavao with their first of two choices in Round 7 of this spring's draft. He is the first tight end drafted by the Saints since Adam Trautman in 2020 and only the third tight end drafted by New Orleans since 2010. Since 2003, the Saints have only drafted Jimmy Graham, Alize Mack, Trautman, and Matavao at the position. Matavao faces stiff competition for a roster spot. Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau, currently rehabbing a knee injury, have the top two spots essentially secured. Dallin Holker, Jack Stoll, Michael Jacobson, Treyton Welch, and Matavao will compete for probably one spot on the active roster and possible practice squad slots. While he has excellent size, Matavao is a better blocker than receiver. This will likely be the key to earning a job with the Saints in 2025.
