LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Sydney Roosters forward Nat Butcher recently returned to play in the NSW Cup after being sidelined by a knee injury since April. Unfortunately, just eight minutes into his comeback, he experienced a painful setback, leading to his departure from the field.
Following this incident, the club confirmed that Butcher has re-injured his right knee's medial ligament (MCL) and will require a complete MCL reconstruction after consulting with specialists.
Although the Roosters have not provided a specific timeline for his recovery, it is known that such a reconstruction typically necessitates a rehabilitation period of six to nine months. This means Butcher is likely to miss a considerable portion of the early 2026 NRL season.
This injury is particularly unfortunate for him as he is under contract with the Roosters until the end of 2027, coinciding with the team's aspirations to mount a late challenge for the 2025 NRL Finals series.