Warrington Wolves halfback given terrible prognosis on ankle injury as timescale is disclosed.
WARRINGTON WOLVES halfback Leon Hayes will be sidelined for six months after suffering an ankle fracture and dislocation in the Wolves’ 17-12 loss to the Salford Red Devils over the weekend.
Hayes left the field on a stretcher after the game and will now need surgery.
Warrington Wolves coach Sam Burgess expresses sympathy for Leon Hayes, who sustained a catastrophic ankle injury in their defeat against Salford Red Devils.
The 20-year-old was taken off the field on a stretcher after an innocuous-looking tackle in the 50th minute of Warrington’s 17-12 loss to Salford on Saturday.
The full extent of Hayes’ injury is still to be confirmed, with the Wire academy product in hospital awaiting scans at the time of writing, but Burgess says he expects to be without his talented playmaker for a lengthy period of time.
“It’s not a great one for him, it’s a tough injury,” Burgess said in his post-match press conference. “We don’t know the full extent but it’s not great, it’s not looking very good at all.
“I spoke to him on the phone, he’s in good spirits and he’s probably more disappointed with the loss if I’m honest, which shows a lot about his character. I’m gutted for him but that’s sport.
“He’s in hospital now awaiting scans and X-rays but I think it’s pretty clear there’s quite a bit of damage in there. It’s definitely dislocation and it looks as though it could be a fracture so it’s not looking good, he’ll be a long time on the sidelines so it was a tough night for him and a tough night for everyone.
“I’m gutted because I’ve got a lot of care and love for that bloke, but we do play a collision sport and it’s part of the game.
“I’ve got a soft spot for him, I’m probably more gutted for him than anyone else. I just didn’t like seeing him look like that.”
Salford Red Devils prop ruled out of Huddersfield Giants match.
Salford’s triumph came at a cost, as vital prop King Vuniyayawa failed a head injury assessment, ruling him out of next Friday’s trip to Huddersfield Giants.
The Fiji international departed the field in the eighth minute due to an HIA and was unable to return, meaning he is automatically out of next week’s match at John Smith’s Stadium and must clear the return-to-play concussion protocol before returning to the pitch.
