<
>

Samoa rocked by injury in big loss to England

Samoa's Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is helped from the field after injuring his ankle against England. OLI SCARFF/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)

Samoa winger Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow looks set to miss a chunk of the Dolphins' NRL pre-season with an ankle injury as coach Matt Parish surveys the wreckage of a disastrous Rugby League World Cup opener which could cost him three players for the rest of the event.

Heavily-touted to upset hosts England in Newcastle on Saturday (Sunday morning AEDT), the Samoans barely fired a shot as they went on to lose 60-6.

And to make matters worse, Parish looks set to lose three members of his starting squad in next week's game with Greece.

Tabuai-Fidow has picked up a suspected ankle injury after starting on the wing.

If he requires surgery, it could delay his return to pre-season training with his new club.

Cronulla prop Braden Hamlin-Uele also pulled up with an injury while utlity Tyrone May, now with Catalans Dragons, suffered a dislocated hip which led to a lengthy delay in the second half at St James' Park.

"He (May) is in Royal Newcastle Hospital, I believe," Parish said.

"We have a few injured guys in there who I don't think will play any further part in the tournament.

"Braden is a calf and I think Hamiso has syndesmosis.

"He is in a moon boot and crutches. So I would be surprised if either of those three would take any further part."

Tabuai-Fidow sealed a move to the Dolphins ahead of the 2023 season and his future teammate Anthony Milford is likely to be facing suspension.

Milford was sent to the sin bin for a high shot on England captain Sam Tomkins in the second half and could be ruled out of their remaining two pool games against Greece and France.

Chanel Harris-Tavita looms as Milford's most likely replacement.

"We're not looking for excuses or anything like that," Parish said.

"We didn't have a lot of luck, injury-wise, we probably need to be a bit more resilient."