NRL 2026, Injuries, suspension, return dates, casualty ward and key information for the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership season

Casualty Ward: Leg injury rules Toia out as Ponga returns

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Fri 6 Nov 2026, 08:27 PM

Gun fullback Kalyn Ponga will return for the Kiwis just three weeks after breaking his arm but Tonga centre Rob Toia has been ruled out due to a leg injury.

Ponga was in supreme form against the Kangaroos in the opening game on October 15 but his tournament appeared to be over after he broke his arm and had surgery the day after the match.

The Kiwis remained optimistic that the No.1 gun might be able to get back on the paddock should they progress to the knockout stage of the tournament, taking heart from Kangaroos hooker Blayke Brailey's return to action for Cronulla just 21 days after breaking his forearm in May.

Ponga was named in the reserves for the Kiwis on Tuesday and has been added to the six-man interchange in Friday's 24-hour update.

Toia, meanwhile, was ruled out on Friday due to a leg injury and has been replaced by Paul Alamoti.

Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland joined the Kiwis squad this week as a replacement for second-rower Jacob Laban, who was been forced out with a leg injury.

Laban, 22, missed training last week and scans since have confirmed a lower leg injury which has ruled him out for the rest of the tournament.

Crossland has served his four-game suspension for a hip drop tackle on Nathan Cleary in the NRL preliminary final.

The versatile Crossland can also cover the halves and lock and has played six times for the Kiwis since 2024, his last Test coming in the 36-14 win over Toa Samoa in the Pacific Championships final in Sydney last year.

Meanwhile, Samoa playmaker Chanel Harris-Tavita will miss the World Cup semi-final against Australia after injuring his hamstring in the loss to Tonga.

Harris-Tavita was attempting a shot at goal in the 52nd minute at CommBank Stadium and immediately felt for his hamstring after taking the kick.

Samoa winger Deine Mariner has overcome a hamstring injury suffered in week one of the tournament and has been named on the interchange for the Allianz Stadium clash.

The Kangaroos welcome back bench forward Cameron Murray after he missed the Cook Islands game due to calf soreness.

Wests Tigers skipper Api Koroisau suffered a facial fracture in Fiji's World Cup clash against New Zealand.

Koroisau left the field in the eighth minute for a HIA after an accidental head clash with Joseph Tapine and was taken to hospital for X-rays.

The Panthers have provided a promising update on the potential return of Dally M Medal winner Nathan Cleary after he underwent surgery on both legs.

The Penrith co-captain suffered a compound fracture of his left leg in the preliminary final loss against the Knights and was taken straight to hospital where he had an operation to insert a plate and screws

Coach Ivan Cleary confirmed post-match that Nathan would also require surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot which he had carried into the match.

"Who knows what an injury - these days - takes," said Panthers CEO Andrew Hill while talking to 2GB's Continuous Call team the day before the NRL grand final.

"What used to take three months, is now three weeks.

"The indication from the surgeon is everything going to plan.

"Round 1 to Round 4 we're expecting him to be back. As good as news as we could have hoped from a terrible, terrible injury."

Fellow Panther Blaize Talagi is facing six months of rehab after suffering a torn Achilles in the preliminary final while fullback Dylan Edwards injured his knee in the loss to the Knights.

Co-captain Isaah Yeo has delayed surgery on his pectoral muscle so he can lead the Kangaroos in the World Cup.

"The injury is feeling good and I feel like I can perform at a level that the country needs," Yeo said at the announcement of the Kangaroos' World Cup squad.

"I wouldn't have put my hand up if I didn't think I could deliver."

Yeo confirmed he will have surgery on his pectoral muscle at the conclusion of the World Cup and aim to be back on the field in the early rounds of 2027.

Sharks playmaker Braydon Trindall is facing a 4-5 month recovery period after having surgery on his shoulder.

Trindall dislocated his shoulder while scoring a try in Round 24 against the Raiders but initially put off surgery so he could return to play four weeks later, battling through two finals fixtures.

Trindall's teammate Toby Rudolf has undergone knee surgery and is facing 3-4 months on the sideline after having an MCL reconstruction.

To view the complete NRL Casualty Ward, please visit the hub page.