Brisbane Broncos are grappling with a severe injury crisis, as news breaks that prop Corey Jensen has been hospitalized due to a blood clot in his lung.
Following their narrow 21-20 victory against the Wests Tigers, Jensen returned home but was soon admitted to a Brisbane hospital with a pulmonary embolism.
At 32, he is receiving top-notch medical care, although the timeline for his recovery remains uncertain; it is anticipated that he will be sidelined for several weeks.
Adding to the team's woes, prop Payne Haas sustained an injury during the first half of the match in Campbelltown, where scans confirmed a grade-three MCL tear, rendering him unavailable for six to eight weeks.
This unfortunate development is critical not just for the Broncos but also for the NSW team, as they will need to cope without Haas for the State of Origin opener.
Additionally, fullback Jesse Arthars suffered an injury during the first half against the Tigers, diagnosed by the Broncos as a "tear to his interosseous membrane" in his leg.
Meanwhile, centre Kotoni Staggs played through pain during the Tigers match, but subsequent scans revealed he has a plantar fascia strain in his foot.
The Broncos are currently uncertain about the recovery timelines for both Staggs and Arthars.
As they prepare to face Canterbury on Friday night, the lineup remains in jeopardy, with 13 players currently either ruled out or doubtful for the match.