Mitch Barnett hospitalized with nerve pain; Wayde Egan stunned by Jason Taumalolo as Warriors beat Cowboys, highlights, scores, results
Warriors second rower Mitch Barnett was taken to hospital for assessment with nerve pain in his neck after he suffered a crushing tackle in the win over the Cowboys.
Barnett left the field in the 55th minute of the 26-12 victory after being injured in a tackle by Cowboys center Gehmat Shibasaki, who was indicted for his part in the incident.
He was initially able to leave the pitch after the tackle but was later shown in a neck brace and on a stretcher before being taken to a nearby hospital in an ambulance.
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“There were some disturbing scenes,” NRL great Cooper Cronk said during Fox League coverage.
“The fact that he’s gone is a good sign, but now that he’s been taken to hospital, not so much.”
The incident was one of two major injuries to arise from the decisive result for Andrew Webster’s side, who recorded their first win in Townsville since 2018.
Hooker Wayde Egan was knocked out in a brutal clash with Jason Taumalolo, but Webster said he was “OK and sound good” in the halls after the game.
The No.9 Warriors had a terrific outing before being knocked out, scoring their side’s first try of the game.
However, his night ended with just over 10 minutes after trying to slow down a rushing Taumalolo.
The Cowboys star ran through several defenders before Egan stepped in and lowered his head in an attempt to duck for a tackle.
Going low, Egan dove straight into Taumalolo’s right shoulder and was sent airborne.
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A dazed Egan remained on the turf for several minutes after the kick before being helped off the field by a pair of Warriors coaches, staggering as he walked away.
It was Egan’s second header of the game after being sent off for a first-half HIA minutes before the half-time break.
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If the blow is deemed a Category 1 head shot, Egan will face a mandatory 11 days on the sidelines before playing his next match.
Egan was joined by Jazz Tevaga, Marcelo Montoya (2) and Edward Kosi as try scorers in a memorable game for the Warriors, with veteran halfback Shaun Johnson pulling the strings perfectly.
There was an electric start to the game, as the two teams traded tries in a manic 13-minute streak.
Tries from Tom Chester and Reece Robson gave the Cowboys a 12-6 lead, but the home side didn’t score another run for the rest of the game.
The Warriors will return home to New Zealand to host the Bulldogs in the fourth round, while the Cowboys will host the Titans in Townsville.
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