LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Knights Star Discusses Challenging Rehab Ahead of Vegas Opener
Fletcher Sharpe, the promising young player for the Newcastle Knights, recently shared insights about the harrowing experience that led to his hospitalization in Perth due to a lacerated kidney and a damaged spleen. He confirmed he is back in training and on track for the club's 2026 season opener in Las Vegas.
The injury occurred during Round 16 against the Dolphins when Sharpe collapsed after sustaining a heavy tackle. He initially left the field for a head injury assessment (HIA) but, by the end of the night, his condition had worsened enough that he required immediate hospital care, where doctors found internal injuries typically associated with serious accidents.
"It was a little bit hairy for a moment there," Sharpe told NRL.com. "During the game it was just a straightforward tackle, I was taken off for an HIA and throughout the night I progressively got a little bit worse."
He praised the medical team for their prompt actions: "The doctors and the medical staff did a great job, they got me straight to hospital and stopped the bleeding. They were excellent and took great care of me."