Warrington Wolves Coach Burgess Laments Serious Ankle Injury to Playmaker Hayes
In the aftermath of Warrington Wolves’ hard-fought 17-12 defeat against Salford Red Devils, head coach Sam Burgess expressed his empathy for young half-back Leon Hayes, who suffered a severe ankle injury during the match.
The 20-year-old academy product was stretchered off the field in the 50th minute following an innocuous-looking tackle, with the full extent of the damage still awaiting confirmation through scans and X-rays. Burgess, however, acknowledged that the injury appears significant, and that Hayes faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
“It’s not a great one for him, it’s a tough injury,” Burgess lamented in his post-match press conference. “We don’t know the full extent but it’s not looking very good at all. I spoke to him, and he’s in good spirits, but I’m sure he’s more disappointed by the loss than anything else, which shows a lot about his character.”
The Warrington boss, who has developed a close rapport with the talented playmaker, expressed his heartbreak at seeing Hayes in such distress.
“I’m gutted for him, I’ve got a lot of care and love for that bloke. We do play a collision sport, and it’s part of the game, but I’m probably more gutted for him than anyone else.”
While Warrington’s defeat was a tough blow, the news was also not entirely positive for the victorious Salford outfit. Fiji international prop King Vuniyayawa was forced off the field for a head injury assessment in the eighth minute and has been ruled out of the club’s upcoming clash with Huddersfield Giants as he navigates the return-to-play concussion protocols.
As rugby league enthusiasts eagerly await updates on the extent of Leon Hayes’ injury, the sport’s ability to produce moments of both triumph and adversity remains on full display.
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