LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Melbourne Storm have suffered a significant setback just before the NRL finals, as it's been confirmed that back-rower Shawn Blore may have played his last match of the season. Blore was not included in the squad for the Thursday night clash against the Brisbane Broncos, with the club later disclosing that he has sustained a fractured larynx.
Despite playing the full 80 minutes in the previous game against the Roosters, he showed no signs of injury. While the Storm did not provide an estimate on how long he may be out, 'NRL Physio' Brien Seeney has indicated that it could potentially end his season.
Seeney shared concerning information for Storm supporters on social media, noting that the "general recovery range" for a fractured larynx spans from one to three months, casting serious doubt on the remainder of Blore's season.
The Storm will face the Broncos in their final regular season match on Thursday night. If they advance to the grand final in five weeks, there's a possibility that Blore could return if his recovery falls on the shorter end of the spectrum. However, any absence longer than five weeks would rule him out for the remainder of the season. Seeney emphasized that recovery times can vary significantly, especially during finals. "It can be quite varied," he noted. "And at finals time usual recovery times don't always apply too."
This season, Blore has participated in 22 games for the Storm and has established himself as a pivotal player since switching from the Wests Tigers last year. Typically, he plays the entire 80 minutes on the left edge, allowing coach Craig Bellamy to avoid carrying an additional back-rower on the bench. To fill Blore's void, Bellamy has selected Ativalu Lisati, with Joe Chan also available as an option.