Tongan rugby league star Tolutau Koula could miss the remainder of the NRL season and face a race to recover for the World Cup after suffering a syndesmosis injury in Manly’s 44–24 victory over Newcastle.
The Sea Eagles centre was injured in a hip-drop tackle by Knights winger Dom Young during the first half of Saturday’s match at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Young has since been charged with grade-two dangerous contact and faces a one-match suspension with an early guilty plea. Because Newcastle has a bye in the final round, the suspension would rule him out of the Knights’ last regular-season match.
Koula will undergo scans to determine the severity of the ankle injury and whether surgery will be required.
With Manly having only two regular-season matches remaining, even a moderate syndesmosis injury could end Koula’s NRL campaign. A serious injury requiring surgery could involve a recovery period of six to eight weeks and potentially place his availability for Tonga at the Rugby League World Cup in doubt.
The injury occurred when Koula collected a short pass and attempted to run towards the tryline before Young brought him down from behind.
The weight of the tackle came down across the outside of Koula’s lower leg while his foot appeared trapped beneath him, forcing his ankle outwards and his knee inwards—a mechanism commonly associated with syndesmosis injuries and, in some cases, damage to the medial collateral ligament in the knee.
Koula was slow to rise but managed to play the ball before Caleb Navale crossed for a try. He was later ruled out of the remainder of the match.
Manly subsequently confirmed that Koula had suffered a syndesmosis injury, although scans will establish its full extent.
Fox League commentator Luke Keary immediately raised concerns after watching a replay of the tackle.
“It had all the mechanisms of a hip-drop; he lost his weight,” Keary said.
Referee Wyatt Raymond placed Young on report and sent him to the sin bin for 10 minutes.
Despite losing one of their leading attacking players, the Sea Eagles took control of the match and scored six tries after falling behind early. Josh Feledy, who replaced Koula, scored a hat-trick, while Reuben Garrick, Jason Saab and Lehi Hopoate also crossed.
The victory kept Manly’s slim hopes of qualifying for the top eight alive.
Young’s Newcastle teammate Tyson Frizell also faces a one-match suspension after receiving a grade-two dangerous-contact charge for a tackle on Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic.
Koula’s injury will be closely monitored by Tonga’s national selectors as preparations continue for the World Cup. The 23-year-old’s speed and ability to play at centre or fullback make him one of Tonga’s most important attacking players.
Neither Manly nor Tonga has confirmed how long Koula is expected to be sidelined. Manly Sea Eagles match report, Nine’s report on Young’s charge.
