Jack Walker faces up to six months on the sidelines after suffering a serious foot injury.
The Leeds Rhinos fullback underwent surgery to repair a lisfranc injury suffered in the club’s victory over Warrington Wolves earlier this month.
The characteristic of a lisfranc injury is that one or more of the metatarsal bones are displaced from the tarsus that runs through the middle of the foot.
Walker now faces a significant spell on the sidelines, with head coach Richard Agar admitting that the club is also looking to get him in for a shoulder reconstruction as soon as possible to help repair damage that could be treated during his period in the treatment room with his foot.
“He’s looking at four to six months,” Agar confirmed.
“He has broken bones and split ligaments. It’s a lisfranc injury and it is a particularly bad one, if we look at the picture and the way it bent. It didn’t look good then and that’s proved to be the case.
“He had an operation cancelled on his shoulder this week and that’s off for the time being. He did it in the pre-season, it’s the same injury as the one on the other shoulder he injured last year.
“It was manageable for him to play through, but we just thought with the amount of time off with his foot we’d get the shoulder back in working order. We’re hopeful of getting him in at some point soon.”
In more positive news, Kruise Leeming’s recovery from a knee injury is progressing well and, with the sport looking at an extended period of absence, the hooker could be fit by the time play resumes.
“Kruise could be back on the field by the time we’re back too,” said Agar.
“It’s a bit of a silver lining that some guys are going to miss fewer games than they could have.
“He’s a very professional and diligent young man, he’s been doing everything by the book and we’re pleased by his progress. To get such a sizeable injury in such an inconspicuous way is a bitter pill to swallow. Looking at Kruise’s history he’s got as clean a bill of health as you’d ever imagine.
“We were excited to have him in the squad; it’s disappointing for him, but he’s been terrific on his rehab and we’ll be excited to have him on the field.”
