Rugby League News: St Helens Star Walmsley Sidelined with Injury Setback
St Helens forward Alex Walmsley, one of the standout props in the Super League, is currently sidelined due to a hamstring injury. The England international was forced to limp off the field during his team’s Challenge Cup loss to Warrington Wolves, a game that saw head coach Paul Wellens criticize his players’ tactics in the aftermath.
“I was shocked that at 18 minutes to go, we went for a short kick-off. I thought that was a sign of where we were as a team. We almost wanted things to come a bit easy.”
While the loss itself was a major setback, the injury to Walmsley compounded the disappointment. Speaking on The Bench podcast, the prop revealed that he needs “a couple of checks” before a definitive assessment of his condition can be made.
However, head coach Wellens has since provided a more detailed update on Walmsley’s status. During an interview on Sky Sports following St Helens’ victory over Huddersfield Giants, Wellens confirmed that the hamstring injury will keep Walmsley sidelined for 6-8 weeks. Worryingly, Wellens also mentioned the possibility of Walmsley requiring knee surgery, which could potentially double the recovery timeline.
The potential extended absence of Walmsley will undoubtedly be a significant blow for St Helens, but the team and fans can take solace in the fact that fellow prop Agnatius Paasi is nearing a return after his own season-ending injury last year. Additionally, Walmsley’s long-term future with the club has been secured, as he recently signed a new deal that will keep him at St Helens until the end of the 2026 season.
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