Siosiua Taukeiaho stretchered off after suspected fractured tibia
Siosiua Taukeiaho was stretchered off and sent to hospital after suffering a suspected fractured tibia while scoring Manly’s fourth try against Brisbane on Saturday night. Four Pines Park stopped dead as the Sea Eagles forward went down in the 20-4 lead early in the second half.
He was given a green whistle to ease the pain before an ambulance took him to a nearby hospital. Later on Saturday night, Jake Duke reported from the club that Taukeiaho had suffered a suspected fractured tibia.
Four Pines Park and Taukeiaho
Dan Ginnane captured the mood on commentary, saying, “That’s ugly... I hope this is not serious and this is a short-term situation... these are concerning scenes here.” He added, “This is the team ahead 20 to 4 but this is a dour moment. This man has played nearly 200 first grade games.”
The injury landed on a 34-year-old veteran who has played 194 NRL games and won two premierships. Taukeiaho had been enjoying a resurgence in the NRL after a brief period in the Super League, after at one point fearing his rugby league career was over when he was axed by Catalans.
Manly’s injury blow
For Manly, the concern is immediate. A forward with that amount of experience rarely leaves the field in that condition without the club feeling it, and Taukeiaho was already off-contract at the end of the year.
The scoreline gave Manly the cushion, but the sight of the front rower leaving on a stretcher changed the night. What follows now is the medical check on a player whose season had already carried extra weight because of what he had fought back from before this injury.
