NRLW 2024, Injuries, suspension, return dates, casualty ward and key information for the 2024 NRL Telstra Women's Premiership season

NRLW Casualty Ward: Titans duo Jorgensen and Hale undergo surgery

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Wed 27 Nov 2024, 11:09 AM

Titans youngster Rilee Jorgensen has undergone surgery to repair a niggling back injury sustained during the 2024 NRLW season.

After missing five rounds across the 2024 campaign due to back complaints, the Under 19 Origin star made her final appearance of the season against the Roosters in Round 5.

Gold Coast medicos will work with Jorgensen in rehab with no determination made yet on her availability for the 2025 season.

Her Titans captain Georgia Hale has also had surgery on her neck, just days after leading New Zealand in the Pacific Cup final against Australia.

Hale played through the pain of a bulging disk for most of the NRLW and international season, suffering the injury in Round 2.

The Titans star was again the NRLW's top defender across the regular season, averaging 37 tackles at a near-perfect 97 percent; before captaining the Kiwi Ferns with similar astute numbers in their three games.

It is expected that Hale will make a full recovery over the coming months and be available at full fitness for the 2025 pre-season.

During the Pacific Championships, the Harvey Norman Jillaroos managed a number of injuries throughout their Pacific Championships campaign with Lauren Brown continuing to recover from a hamstring strain suffered in the Prime Minister's XIII game.

The halfback did not feature in the final, with Knights playmaker Jesse Southwell joining the team in camp as cover.

Hooker Quincy Dodd started the opening match against the Orchids, but suffered a minor quad injury in that match.

Bench forward Jessika Elliston also carried a minor quad injury, but was named as the replacement player in the final, while hooker Olivia Higgins lined up in the match against the Ferns despite dislocating her wrist in the Week 2 victory over New Zealand. However the joint was quickly put back in place and she avoided further damage.

For the Kiwi Ferns, bench utility Brooke Talataina missed the Cup final after suffering an ankle injury in her Test debut in the win over the Orchids. Talataina played just 11 minutes before she was forced off the field with an ankle injury.

PNG Orchids centre La-Toniya Norris-Addo suffered an ACL injury against the Jillaroos in the opening match of the tournament and was replaced in the squad by Jenny Wesley.

Wesley herself suffered a leg injury in the loss to Samoa in the Pacific Cup promotion / relegation final, as did winger Lyiannah Allen.

Earlier in the international season, Titans flyer Jaime Chapman was left out of the Jillaroos squad due to ongoing hamstring concerns, but had a good hit-out for the PM's XIII with a try double and 142 run metres.

Meanwhile, Titans youngster Ivana Lolesio has returned to the field for her first run since rupturing her ACL in March.

"I got a little bit emotional which was unexpected, but I'm incredibly grateful to be back on the grass again and see that light at the end of the tunnel," Lolesio told Titans.com

Lolesio's teammates Destiny Mino-Sinapati and Chantay Kiria-Ratu also missed the entire 2024 season due to knee injuries and are slowly working their way back to fitness.

"We've all seen each other's emotions and we've done everything together during this rehab journey so to be back on the field running together is a memory I'll keep forever," Lolesio said.