Queensland and NRL fans have been given more injury information ahead of key representative and club fixtures, with multiple players now facing time on the sidelines.
The update centres on Queensland forward Pat Carrigan, who has been ruled out of Origin selection after suffering a syndesmosis injury. The syndesmosis is an injury affecting the ligaments between the tibia and fibula, typically associated with ankle problems that can impact stability and return-to-play timelines. The report indicates that Carrigan will be unavailable for an estimated period of 3–4 weeks.
This development adds immediate pressure to Queensland’s Origin preparations, particularly because Origin campaigns require teams to lock in combinations early. Carrigan’s absence means coaches will need to reassess forward depth and the structure of match-day selections. Depending on his role and minutes managed in recent games, Queensland could also face knock-on impacts for training patterns, bench usage, and how the team handles scrums and forward rotations.
Alongside Carrigan, another reported player setback further highlights the strain clubs and representative squads may be preparing for. Gehamat Shibasaki is also listed as out for a longer recovery window. The update suggests Shibasaki is expected to miss 5–6 weeks due to a Grade 2 MCL injury.
An MCL injury refers to damage of the medial collateral ligament, commonly in the knee. A Grade 2 classification generally indicates a partial tear with moderate severity, often leading to a rehabilitation plan focused on regaining strength, stability, range of motion, and safe return to high-intensity contact. A 5–6 week timeframe suggests the injury is significant enough to prevent immediate participation while still offering a feasible path back within a month or so.
For both Broncos and Queensland pathways, these injuries represent a timely but challenging hurdle. Players’ availability affects how coaches plan training loads, selection options, and potential positional cover. It can also influence how a team manages players across competitions, especially when there are games that demand full fitness, quick ball movement, and physical defence.
The news comes as an additional “more to come” message, implying that further injury or team news could be released soon. In the lead-up to representative fixtures such as Origin, it’s common for injury updates to arrive in waves, as medical assessments confirm severity and determine return dates. That context helps explain why the message is framed as a breaking update rather than a final list.
Overall, the core takeaway is that Queensland faces a major forward loss with Pat Carrigan, sidelined for approximately 3–4 weeks due to a syndesmosis injury, while Gehamat Shibasaki is expected to be out for 5–6 weeks after sustaining a Grade 2 MCL injury. The combination of these setbacks is likely to force both squad and club adjustments, with selection and training priorities shifting to account for the timing of returns.
As further confirmations emerge, teams will be looking to manage replacement selections carefully to maintain performance levels and reduce the risk of further injuries, especially as representative matches approach. The update therefore functions both as an immediate warning for affected players’ absence and as a signal that additional news regarding other personnel may follow.
Source: Joel Gould (via @aap_sports).
Joel Gould: Breaking Broncos/Qld news Pat Carrigan out of Origin for @QLDmaroons Syndesmosis injury. 3-4 weeks. Also OUT is Gehamat Shibasaki 5-6 weeks Grade 2 MCL More to come @aap_sports. #breaking
— @JoelGould6 May 1, 2026
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