As the 2025 NRL and NRLW seasons thunder toward their climactic finales, the spotlight isn’t just on the big plays or tactical masterstrokes—it's also squarely on the casualty wards, where injuries and suspensions are shaping the destinies of clubs across Australia. With the NRL grand final set to feature perennial heavyweights Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos, and the NRLW’s Sydney Roosters racing to get their stars fit for their own decider, the injury lists read like a who’s who of rugby league talent.
Few stories are as compelling as that of Roosters prop Amber Hall. On September 27, 2025, Hall was battling time itself, hoping to recover from a nagging calf injury in time for the NRLW grand final. The injury, first sustained in Round 11 against the Sharks, limited Hall to just 14 minutes in that fateful match. After a two-week layoff, she returned for the preliminary final against Cronulla in Gosford. Coming off the bench in the 26th minute, she played until halftime but didn’t return for the second stanza. The Roosters, however, managed to eke out a dramatic 17-16 victory, booking their spot in the grand final while Hall watched nervously from the sideline.
Coach John Strange was quick to address concerns post-match, stating, “She just has a bit of a niggle still with a calf so we didn’t want to risk it. She got through to half-time but just felt it pull up a bit sore so we just want to make sure she’s right for next week. We were really confident in the rest of the girls we had out to not risk that so I think she’ll be fine.” The Roosters’ medical staff will be working overtime, hoping to have Hall fit for the biggest game of the year.
Injuries weren’t the only challenge for the Roosters in their semi-final run. The loss of Tarryn Aiken to an ACL injury was a significant blow, but the return of Corban Baxter—who had been sidelined since Round 7 with an ankle issue—provided a much-needed boost. Baxter slotted seamlessly into the halves as Aiken’s replacement, a testament to her resilience and the Roosters’ depth. Over at the Sharks, Annessa Biddle (elbow) and Quincy Dodd (ankle) both made successful comebacks, though it wasn’t enough to push Cronulla into the grand final.
Elsewhere in the NRLW, North Queensland’s Alisha Foord suffered a worrying leg injury early in the second half of the semi-final loss to the Sharks, requiring medical assessment after being carried off in obvious pain. Despite a collision between winger Francesca Goldthorp and centre Jasmine Peters, both players soldiered on, finishing the match despite their knocks—a gritty display of the league’s trademark toughness.
Scanning the NRLW’s broader casualty ward, the list is daunting. Several players, including Bree Spreadborough (ankle), Tegan Dymock (syndesmosis), Madison Bartlett (collarbone), Claudia Finau (ACL), and many more, are set to miss significant time—some sidelined until well into 2026. A handful are out indefinitely due to pregnancy, while others, like Aliyah Nasio, will miss the grand final through suspension. The Roosters, in particular, are feeling the pinch, with Amber Hall (calf, TBC) and Tarryn Aiken (knee, 2026) among their most high-profile absentees.
On the NRL men’s side, the grand final showdown between the Storm and Broncos is brimming with intrigue—not least because of the injury and suspension dramas that have unfolded during the finals campaign. The Broncos’ Patrick Carrigan, having served a one-match suspension for a shoulder charge, is set to return for the decider. Meanwhile, playmaker Billy Walters’ ACL injury in the qualifying final means he’ll miss the majority of the 2026 season, a bitter pill for the club and fans alike. Hayze Perham’s pre-season ACL rupture ruled him out for the entire 2025 campaign, highlighting just how fragile a team’s fortunes can be.
Melbourne Storm’s own troubles aren’t far behind. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, handed a three-match suspension for a high tackle in Round 27, will miss the grand final, depriving the Storm of one of their most imposing forwards. Across the league, the list of walking wounded is extensive: from Canberra’s Ethan Strange (illness) and Xavier Savage (shoulder fracture) to the Bulldogs’ Stephen Crichton (foot), Marcelo Montoya (ankle), and Enari Tuala (leg), teams are being tested to their limits.
The injury curse has spread to nearly every club. The Sharks’ Tom Hazelton (concussion) and Cameron McInnes (ACL), the Dolphins’ Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (MCL) and Herbie Farnworth (hamstring), and the Titans’ Phillip Sami (groin) and David Fifita (ankle) are just a few of the high-profile names out for the season or longer. Manly Sea Eagles’ injury list reads like a medical report, with Tommy Talau (thumb), Tolutau Koula (knee), Taniela Paseka (Achilles), and Jake Trbojevic (concussion) all set to miss significant time.
The Newcastle Knights have also been hit hard. Adam Elliott (biceps), Dylan Lucas (foot), Kalyn Ponga (Lisfranc injury), and Fletcher Sharpe (lacerated kidney) are all out for the rest of the 2025 campaign. The Warriors have seen Jacob Laban (broken leg), Rocco Berry (dislocated shoulder), Luke Metcalf (ACL), and Mitch Barnett (ACL) succumb to season-ending injuries, while Tohu Harris has retired due to a persistent wrist problem. North Queensland Cowboys’ Viliami Vailea (hamstring), Murray Taulagi (hamstring), and Tom Chester (ACL) are among a raft of casualties.
Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers, South Sydney Rabbitohs, St George Illawarra Dragons, and Wests Tigers have all seen key players fall by the wayside. Shaun Lane and Tom Eisenhuth have both announced their retirements, underlining the toll the game takes on its warriors.
With so many stars sidelined, coaches have been forced to dig deep into their squads, offering opportunities to emerging talent but also leaving fans to wonder what might have been had injuries not intervened. As the grand finals approach, the focus shifts from who is missing to who can step up and seize the moment. Will Amber Hall recover in time to power the Roosters to NRLW glory? Can the Broncos and Storm overcome their own setbacks to produce a classic decider?
One thing’s for sure: the drama isn’t just on the field. The battle for fitness, resilience, and depth is being fought in treatment rooms and on the training paddock, with every club hoping their luck holds just a little longer. The stage is set for an unforgettable finish to the 2025 rugby league season, with every player on the park—and every fan in the stands—acutely aware of just how much is at stake.