MLR Notes – Eastern Conference signings and injury updates

The Eastern Conference has some catching up to do with their overall record in comparison to the West, but it is equally competitive heading towards the second half of the season. In fact one might argue the playoff race is more compelling in the East with five teams in realistic positions to challenge for a top-three spot down the stretch and only one clear front runner. Every team has added players in recent days bar one, and there are also a number of significant injuries.

ATL have already lost hooker Tiaan Erasmus and have now been hit with a hammer blow as Eagles No8 Jason Damm is out for the season after undergoing knee surgery. There is also concern for Rowan Gouws as the scrumhalf came off at halftime against NOLA and did not return. Replacements for all three players have been sorted.

Coming out of retirement is former Eagles hooker Phil Thiel, who remarkably made his MLR debut at the age of 38 in New Orleans. Also back is Connor Cook, who had initially called it quits after last season but at 32 still has some petrol in the tank. The new scrumhalf is Niall Saunders, who was picked up from the Utah Warriors for some cap space.

It looks as though Cory Daniel and Mike Dabulas have joined Stan South on the sidelines for the rest of the campaign. Daniel had shoulder surgery last week and while a final decision on Dabulas hadn’t been made as of the weekend, he has aggravated the knee injury that kept him out of much of last year.

There isn’t a back replacement with Junior Sa’u and Peni Lasaqa fit again, and Doug Fraser fresh having seen little action this far. Up front three reinforcements have been arranged. A trimmed down Langilangi Haupeakui has already made two appearances and Canadian lock Kyle Baillie has now arrived at training. Moana Pasifika flanker Niko Jones is the latest signing, the son of legendary All Black Michael Jones is set to make the trip from Auckland.

Captain Larsen aside, the Free Jacks are starting to get most of their early season injuries back. Le Roux Malan, Reegan O’Gorman, and Slade McDowall are all back in action. Foster DeWitt and Taniela Filimone took minor knocks in the blowout win over the Arrows but neither are expected to miss much time. Mitch Wilson is also nearing a return from concussion suffered against Utah.

New England didn’t make any last-minute moves but they did have one card yet to play. It’s a big one. The 2022 MLR Player of the Year is returning from Japan. Beaudein Waaka’s contract with Kobelco is up at the end of the month and he’ll be re-joining the Free Jacks for the playoff run-in. It remains to be seen where he fits into the backline with flyhalf, fullback, or even wing are all options.

There are no late signings for the Gold but there is some good news on the injury front. Most notably what looked like a potentially serious injury to Tom Florence turned out to be a high ankle sprain, and he won’t be missing from action long if at all. Rodney Iona might also have a quick recovery after tweaking a hamstring against ATL.

Harley Wheeler’s return is now imminent, and both Devin Short and Jordan Trainor are only about a week behind. NOLA will need all of them in the coming weeks as they push for a first-ever playoff berth.

New York’s injury list is knocking on the door of Toronto’s in terms of severity. Teofilo Fidow is out with a bad knee, Pago Haini is recovering from a twisted ankle, and Jack Heighton failed an HIA in the game against Toronto. Both starting props against DC, Tevita Langi and Nic Mayhew, came off in the first half and Chance Wenglewski was already sidelined. Back row trio Brendon O’Connor, Joe Basser, and Ben Bonasso are also concerns.

Only one newcomer has been confirmed thus far in Kenyan international flanker Monate Akuei, who debuted in Leesburg. The club has been linked with a move for David Busby from Seattle, who could provide valuable cover at center or wing. Draft picks Doyle Hedgepeth and Bill Whiteside have been playing with the USA Hawks and could help out in May if needed.

Toronto’s mid-season shopping had already been revealed with all of Shay Kerry, Peter Nelson, Dawson Fatoric, and D’Shawn Bowen on the field against New England. Nelson was replaced just after the half-hour mark by Fabian Goodall, and Noel Reid being spotted on crutches after being helped off the fight in the second half suggests he’ll be gone for a while. Another tough matchup arrives this week in Seattle, and it’s an anxious wait to see who is left standing.