Deine Mariner has been rushed to hospital and has undergone surgery, the Broncos have confirmed.
The star winger suffered an acute compartment syndrome (ACS) injury to his right thigh during Brisbane’s loss to the Roosters on Saturday night.
The club says Mariner underwent an operation on Sunday morning after being admitted to hospital.
ACS typically involves dangerous mounting pressure within a muscle, generally the result of a severe injury or bone fracture.
The syndrome can impair blood circulation, preventing oxygen from reaching muscles and nerves, which can cause permanent tissue damage or death within hours.
The shock diagnosis comes after Mariner returned to play the final 15 minutes of the game at Allianz Stadium.
He hobbled from the field in the 34th minute and Broncos officials communicated to Fox League commentators that he would not return to the game as a result of a “corky” to his right leg.
However, Mariner returned to the field in the 65th minute after winger Josiah Karapani also appeared to suffer an ugly leg injury.
Code Sports reports Mariner will be sidelined indefinitely.
Broncos coach Michael Maguire in his post game press conference applauded Mariner for his bravery and selfless decision to return to the field.
Mariner had not been taken to hospital by the time Maguire fronted reporters.
“Deine probably shouldn’t have gone back out, but that’s what they’re doing for each other,” Maguire said, proud of how his team fought back from 30-0 down to get within six points.
“I could talk about many other players, but that’s what the competition is demanding of you at the moment. Deine, straight away he jumped up and out he went. So they’re competing really hard for each other. We just needed to be smarter.”
It was a horror night for the Broncos on the injury front.
Tom Duffy will come in for Adam Reynolds when they take on Manly next week after the veteran halfback’s head slammed into the turn as he tried to make a tackle.
“He came in a couple of weeks ago and showed what he’s capable of. I thought he went out there today and steered the team around,” Maguire said.
Maguire said injured stars like Payne Haas and Ben Hunt will not be back next week, with wingers Karapani also in serious doubt to play next week.
The bad news kept coming for the Broncos on Sunday with star centre Kotoni Staggs his with a two-game suspension.
Staggs was sent to the sin bin for an elbow to the back of Hugo Savala’s head following a tackle late in the game.
The NRL judiciary review hit Staggs with a Grade 2 Dangerous Contact charge.
He risks a three-match ban if he does not accept an early guilty plea.
— with NewsWire
