Flanagan leaves hospital, Eels gun out for two months
St George Illawarra's Kyle Flanagan has been cleared of a serious neck injury and released from hospital following a sickening head clash on the Gold Coast.
Kyle Flanagan has been released from hospital following a sickening head clash that knocked the St George Illawarra five-eighth unconscious for an estimated five minutes.
It comes as scans confirmed Parramatta fullback Isaiah Iongi will miss at least eight weeks with the ankle injury he suffered in a hip-drop tackle earlier in round four.
Flanagan left the Dragons’ 22-14 loss to Gold Coast on a stretcher and in an ambulance following a collision with teammate Hayden Buchanan in the second half.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.But scans taken at Gold Coast University Hospital cleared Flanagan of a serious neck injury, with the 27-year-old due to fly home with the team as planned on Monday.
He will nevertheless be unavailable for the winless Dragons’ round-five clash against North Queensland this Saturday under the NRL’s 11-day stand-down rule for concussions.
A longer lay-off appears likely given Flanagan will need to be completely symptom-free before he returns to the field.
“(Flanagan) will continue to be monitored by club medical staff under NRL concussion protocols regarding the return-to-play timeline,” a Dragons club statement read.
On Sunday night, Flanagan managed to speak to his father, Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, under Cbus Super Stadium after regaining consciousness.
“He was unconscious for what someone said was five minutes, so that is a big concern,” Shane Flanagan said post match.
“I had to get myself together and regroup and know we have got good medical staff and he’d be OK.”
Lyhkan King-Togia replaced Flanagan during the loss to the Titans and appears the likeliest to partner Dan Atkinson in the halves this weekend.
Elsewhere, superstar Eels fullback Iongi will require surgery after Mitch Kenny’s hip-drop tackle left him with a syndesmosis injury in Saturday’s loss to Penrith.
Iongi had enjoyed a brilliant start to his second season inblue and gold and had loomed as integral to the rebuilding club’s hopes of a breakthrough finals berth.
He was the second Parramatta player in as many weeks to suffer a serious injury in a hip-drop tackle after J’Maine Hopgood ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in round three.
Joash Papalii appears a leading candidate to start at fullback from the Easter Monday clash against Wests Tigers.
Scans also confirmed initial fears of an ACL for bench forward Matt Doorey, who will need between nine and 12 months to recover.
