Super League has been hit by a spate of injuries in the opening four rounds, with Hull FC head coach John Cartwright attributing the crisis to the increased speed of the game. New interpretations this season have punished holding down at the ruck more strictly, leading to a faster play of the ball. According to Cartwright, players are covering more ground at higher speeds, which he believes is pushing the human body to its limits.
Hull FC have been particularly affected, losing full-back Will Pryce to a season-ending injury in February. Other long-term absentees include Castleford Tigers' Blake Taaffe (ACL rupture), Bevan French (hamstring tear), Arthur Mourgue (torn pec), and Jack Welsby (shoulder injury). Huddersfield Giants are the worst hit with 16 injuries, while Castleford and Leigh Leopards also have significant numbers.
Cartwright stated: 'The only thing I can put it down to is the game has got faster. The data coming out of games shows the players are covering more metres and they're doing it at a faster speed. You can manage it at training as best as you possibly can, but the human body is only capable of so much and at some point, no matter who you are, you hit a breaking point.'
Bradford Bulls coach Kurt Haggerty offered a different perspective, suggesting the volume of injuries could be due to inconsistent pitch surfaces. He pointed to the transition from 4G to grass pitches as a possible cause, noting that the UK's weather often forces teams to switch surfaces. Haggerty said: 'The change in surfaces constantly because of the weather and the country that we live in has a huge impact on injuries, especially early on in the season because you’re transitioning from 4G to grass.' He added that if injury numbers drop in the summer, it would support his theory.
