Former Super League Stars Tyla Hepi and Adam Lawton Sidelined by Long-Term Injuries
In a disappointing turn of events, former Super League players Tyla Hepi and Adam Lawton have both suffered significant injuries that are likely to keep them out for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Tyla Hepi’s ACL Injury
Hepi, a forward who has represented Hull KR and Castleford Tigers in the past, linked up with Championship newcomers Doncaster ahead of the current campaign. The 30-year-old had featured 11 times for Richard Horne‘s side, but has now sustained an ACL injury that will sideline him for the rest of the year.
This is the second time in as many years that Hepi has faced a lengthy spell on the sidelines, having spent 2023 recovering from a previous injury. The Auckland-born player, who will turn 31 in June, has made over 200 appearances in the British game, also donning jerseys for Gloucestershire All Golds, Whitehaven, and Toulouse Olympique.
Doncaster, who currently sit just outside the Championship play-off positions, have expressed their full support for Hepi’s recovery journey, stating that the club will do everything in its power to aid his rehabilitation.
Adam Lawton’s Ankle Injury
Meanwhile, Adam Lawton, who joined League 1 side Oldham from hometown club Widnes Vikings ahead of this season, has also suffered a significant blow. The 30-year-old had been in impressive form for the Roughyeds, scoring 11 tries in his first 13 appearances, but now faces a spell on the sidelines after breaking a bone in his ankle during last weekend’s defeat against table-toppers Keighley Cougars.
Oldham head coach Sean Long was unable to provide a definitive timeline for Lawton’s recovery, stating that the full extent of the injury is yet to be determined. However, Long acknowledged that the setback could potentially rule the player out for the remainder of the campaign.
These injuries to former Super League stars Hepi and Lawton serve as a somber reminder of the physical toll that the sport can take on its participants. Both players will undoubtedly be disappointed to have their seasons cut short, but the clubs involved have pledged to provide the necessary support and resources to aid their respective recoveries.
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