Prominent St Helens Prop Alex Walmsley Sidelined with Hamstring Injury
In a setback for Super League powerhouse St Helens, their star prop Alex Walmsley is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury. The England international limped off the field during the team’s recent Challenge Cup loss to Warrington Wolves, compounding an already disappointing result.
Speaking on the popular rugby league podcast The Bench, Walmsley revealed that he is undergoing “a couple of checks” to determine the extent of the issue. “I got a hamstring issue, that’s what’s keeping me out,” the 32-year-old explained, adding that he hopes to have a definitive answer in the coming days.
However, St Helens head coach Paul Wellens painted a more concerning picture during a post-match interview with Sky Sports. “The hamstring injury is a 6-8 week one, but I think it’s looking like Alex Walmsley may require knee surgery as well off the back of that,” Wellens disclosed. “If that’s the case, it’s going to keep him out for probably double that period.”
Wellens was also critical of his team’s tactics during the Warrington defeat, accusing them of “wanting the game to be too easy” after they opted for a short kick-off while trailing by 12 points with 18 minutes remaining. “I was shocked that at 18 minutes to go, we went for a short kick-off,” the coach lamented. “I thought that was a sign of where we were as a team. We almost wanted things to come a bit easy.”
Despite the setback, St Helens fans can take solace in the fact that fellow prop Agnatius Paasi is nearing a return after sustaining a season-ending injury in last year’s Challenge Cup. Furthermore, Walmsley recently signed a new deal that will keep him with the club until the end of the 2026 rugby league season, ensuring his long-term future with the Red Vee.
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