There are grave concerns for Roosters recruit Tommy Talau after the outside back suffered a non-contact knee injury while playing in NSW Cup this weekend. And NRL rivals Manly and Canberra both copped worrying injury blows on Saturday.

Talau, who moved to the Roosters in the off-season from Manly, was playing reserve-grade against the Warriors when he scooped up a loose ball. He then attempted to push off and run, but immediately collapsed to the ground without a hand laid on him.

Siosiua Taukeiaho (L) suffered a torn calf, while there’s concerns that Tommy Talau (far right) might have done his ACL. Image: Getty

Talau was seen grabbing his knee in pain and throwing his head back in anger as he left the field. It was the look of a player who knows they’ve likely suffered a serious injury.

Andrew Voss said in commentary during the Roosters’ first-grade game: “Grave concerns from the NSW Cup with Tommy Talau suffered a non-contact knee injury. The big fear is when there’s a knee injury and no contact.”

The Roosters are also likely to lose Spencer Leniu after he was a late withdrawal with a hamstring injury. According to ‘NRL Physio’ Brien Seeney, any hamstring injury would normally carry at least a two-week layoff.

Manly and Canberra lose players to injury

The Raiders and Sea Eagles also suffered blows on Saturday, with English forward Matty Nicholson re-injuring his shoulder in NSW Cup. Nicholson dislocated his shoulder in the pre-season, and played reserve-grade for Canberra on Saturday as he works back to full fitness.

But he reportedly suffered a recurrence of the same injury and is facing multiple weeks on the sideline. Noah Martin was a revelation as Nicholson’s replacement in the starting side at NRL level, scoring two tries as Canberra beat Manly 29-28 in golden-point.

Matty Nicholson’s time at the Raiders has been marred by injuries.

(Mark Nolan via Getty Images)

The Raiders lost Josh Papalii early in the game to a failed head injury assessment, which means he’ll be stood down for 11 days and miss the trip to New Zealand in Round 2. As for Manly, they lost Siosiua Taukeiaho after just 15 minutes on Saturday night to what the club have revealed to be a torn calf.

According to Seeney, the prop forward would be facing between 3-6 on the sidelines for a ‘moderate’ tear/strain. Taukeiaho will get scans on the calf, with anything more then a moderate injury set to rule him out for months.