ST HELENS head coach Paul Rowley has given a worrying update on injured forward Noah Stephens, saying the “outcomes aren’t clear” but that the worst-case scenario could measure his recovery from nerve damage in years.
Stephens suffered a serious issue during Saints’ loss to Castleford Tigers last month.
It’s believed he has damaged some of the brachial plexus nerves which run from the neck and down the shoulder, limiting his movement in an arm.
The club are waiting to discover the extent of that damage.
Rowley said: “It’s a slow process and the outcomes aren’t clear. We have to adapt and move as things present themselves, so it’s a really troublesome and potentially bad injury.
“We’re hoping that it’s the best side of that injury, but it’s a tricky one, and the worst side is very, very long-term and measured in years.
“The best side is short-term, measured in months, and that would be three, six, and then start rehabbing, so it’s (next) season.
“I think we’re not at the stage (of knowing the timeframe) yet. To get to the point of rehab there are various hurdles to jump in terms of getting feeling back, getting sensations in different parts of his arm which he’s not got yet, and ultimately he can’t drive. There’s complexities in more ways than one.
“The sooner he’s in this club – I don’t care what he’s doing, even if he’s just sat with us in the coach’s room – the better for everybody, because he’s a pleasure to have around.”