Connelly Lemuelu will have further checks conducted on his knee after picking up an injury while away with Toa Samoa for the Pacific Championships. 

NRL Casualty Ward: Knee concern for Lemuelu

Dolphins forward Connelly Lemuelu will have further checks conducted on his knee after picking up an injury while away with Toa Samoa for the Pacific Championships.

The injury ruled Lemuelu out of the team’s second Test against New Zealand on October 21, with coach Ben Gardiner confirming he will have it looked over now that Samoa’s campaign is over.

Gardiner said while the injury was significant enough that the 25-year-old “was never going to play” against New Zealand, he didn’t believe it would restrict his return to pre-season training.

Penrith five-eighth Jarome Luai has had surgery on the shoulder he dislocated late in the season before bravely returning to play in the preliminary final and premiership decider.

Luai, who was ruled out of Samoa’s Pacific Championship campaign, left the field in the 51st minute of the grand final carrying his left arm and watched on from the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Cook Islands halfback Tevin Arona has been cleared of a spinal fracture after being injured in the opening set of tackles in the Pacific Championships clash with Papua New Guinea.

Cook Islands prop Makahesi Makatoa played just five minutes of that match before he was forced off with a suspected pectoral injury and he didn’t play in their second Test against Papua New Guinea.

To view the complete NRL Casualty