WESTS Tigers hopeful and Papua New Guinea international Jimmy Ngutlik has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after succumbing to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during preseason training at Concord last month.
This was a blow for the 22-year-old who recently excelled at the Rugby League World Cup and was making a strong case for a National Rugby League (NRL) debut with the Tim Sheens-coached side this season.
Tigers recruitment manager Warren McDonnell confirmed with The National on Wednesday that the winger would miss the 2023 season but would be retained for 2024 preseason.
Ngutlik was likely to feature for the Tigers in their first trial match against New Zealand Warriors in Auckland last Thursday.
“Jimmy Ngutlik has a torn ACL and is undergoing an operation next week,” McDonnell said.
The speedster was promoted to the feeder side Western Suburbs Magpies in the New South Wales’ Ron Massey Cup and New South Wales Cup competitions last year.
With a new train and trial deal for 2023, Ngutlik would have been available for NRL side’s selection as early as round 10 this year.
Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe told this paper in December that Ngutlik’s form at the Rugby League World Cup in England encouraged the Tigers to promote him this season.
Ngutlik first featured for PNG in the Prime Minister’s 13 challenge against Australia in Brisbane last September before making his Kumuls debut at the Word Cup.
He played three games for the Kumuls scoring three tries.
He was the Kumuls only try scorer in their 6-46 loss to England in the Rugby League World Cup quarterfinal.
News source www.thenational.com.pg
Leave us a comment