TESI NIU is set to miss the rest of the 2026 Super League season after rupturing his MCL.
The Leigh Leopards star was the victim of a nasty hip drop tackle from Warrington Wolves hooker Sam Powell at Super League’s Magic Weekend.
And now Leigh boss Adrian Lam has given a roll-call of other injuries – and explained Niu’s prognosis.
“We will give Robbie Mulhern and Aarone Pene until Captain’s Run,” Lam said.
“They have niggling injuries to their calves and achilles respectively.
“Joe Ofahengaue has a 1B calf strain/tear so that will be two or three weeks for him.
“Tesi Niu is a long-term injury. We all know he has hurt his knee there through that incident but it looks like he’s ruptured his MCL and there is a fair bit of damage to his cartilage.
“It could be the rest of the season for Tesi.”
New signing Lazarus Vaalepu could make his debut against Castleford Tigers, though.
“Lazarus Vaalepu is a big body, he is a point of difference for us and has slipped straight into training.
“I’m pretty excited to get working with him. It will be business as usual trying to get him up to speed about who we are as a club.
“It certainly looks like he will fit in really well.”