PANTHERS centre Waqa Blake faces at least a month on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury in his side’s win over the Eels on Sunday.

Blake sustained the injury late in the game with scans on Monday revealing a high grade syndesmosis injury.

Anthony Griffin hasn’t hinted how he’ll fill Blake’s spot but Tyrone Peachey could revert back to the centres after filling in at five-eighth with rookie Jarome Luai to come into the halves.

Meanwhile, the Wests Tigers face a nervous wait after prop Russell Packer suffered a knee injury in their impressive win over Melbourne on Saturday.

Round 20

Packer, who joined the club this season, copped a knock to his right knee making a tackle late in the game and had it strapped.

Because the Tigers had already made all their interchanges, Packer was forced to play out the game.

“It’s a bit of a concern actually,” Tigers coach Ivan Cleary said post-game.

“We couldn’t take him off because he made our last sub. He was on one leg.

“We’ll just have to cross our fingers on that one but I think he’s in a bit of trouble.”

It’ll be a huge blow should Packer be sidelined for an extended period, given he’s been one of their best in the opening rounds of the season.

Canberra playmaker Sam Williams will miss four to six weeks with a medial ligament injury.

It was a bruising encounter on Thursday for Ricky Stuart’s men with Luke Bateman, Ata Hingano, Michael Oldfield and Aidan Sezer all suffering head knocks.

In good news, Bateman will be available for next week, while Hingano, Oldfield and Sezer will be monitored but are all expected to be fit for round six.

“I’ve never been prouder of an effort,” Stuart said.

“I asked them for extra effort and it’s amazing how they got through that period of 40 minutes and we still played footy.

“I’m one proud coach.”

The Bulldogs also had to battle on undermanned after Brett Morris suffered a gory facial injury while attempting to rein in Raiders opposite Jordan Rapana in just the 10th minute.

A boot to the face not only drew blood but resulted in Morris undertaking a head injury assessment that he was unable to pass.

Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has revealed winger Sione Katoa is three weeks ahead of schedule in making his return from injury.

Katoa broke his jaw in his NRL debut but eyeing an early comeback according to his coach.

“He’s recovering from a broken jaw,” Flanagan told the Market Watch podcast.

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“He’s probably two or three weeks away at the moment he’s probably around Round 7 or 8.

“We’ll see where the teams at and Sione is at.

“He’s definitely an exciting talent and first grade winger. He can break tackles and finish tries off, he just needs to get his fair share of games and I’m sure he’ll get them this year.”

Nathan Ryan and Ben Glover are joined by Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan to chat about the club’s new recruits and plans for the future.

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“We’re really looking forward to getting him back. Whether he needs a couple of games in second grade or comes back straight in, time will tell.”

INJURED IN ROUND FIVE

Sam Williams (Raiders) — knee, round 10-12

Luke Bateman (Raiders) — concussion, round six

Ata Hingano (Raiders) — concussion, round six

Michael Oldfield (Raiders) — concussion, round six

Aidan Sezer (Raiders) — concussion, round six

Brett Morris (Bulldogs) — concussion, round six

Chris Heighington (Knights) — dislocated finger, TBA

Mitch Barnett (Knights) — concussion, TBA

James Segeyaro (Sharks) — concussion, TBA

Russell Packer (Tigers) — knee, scans

Brad Parker (Sea Eagles) — gastro virus, pre-game

Waqa Blake (Panthers) — ankle, round 10

Kirisome Auva’a (Eels) — knee, TBA

Tepai Moeroa (Eels) — concussion, TBA

Full NRL injury list:

BRONCOS

Andre Savelio — ACL — Season

Jordan Kahu — Broken jaw — Round 8-14

Alex Glenn — Shoulder — Round 6

WARRIORS

Gerard Beale — Broken leg — Round 10

Nathaniel Roache — Back — Season

Isaiah Papali’i — Knee — Round 9-10

James Gavet — Hamstring — Round 6

EELS

Brad Takairangi — Eye Socket — Round 10

Clint Gutherson — Knee — Round 8

Jarryd Hayne — Hip flexor — Round 9-10

Bevan French — Shoulder — Round 6

Greg Leleisiuao — Ankle — Round 7

SHARKS

Sione Katoa — Jaw — Round 7-8

Jayson Bukuya — Groin — Round 7

BULLDOGS

Aiden Tolman in hospital after surgery. Source: Instagram

Aiden Tolman — Ankle — Round 13

Brett Morris — Concussion — Round 6

KNIGHTS

Nick Meaney — Foot — Round 12

Connor Watson — shoulder — Round 10-12

Tautau Moga — Knee — Season

Chris Heighington — Dislocated Finger — Round 6

Mitch Barnett — Concussion — TBA

DRAGONS

None.

PANTHERS

Nathan Cleary — MCL — Round 14

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak — Jaw — Round 9

Tyrone May — ACL — Round 6

Tyrone Phillips — Pectoral tear — Round 8

Tim Browne — Ruptured bowel — Indefinite

Sam McKendry — Knee — Season

RABBITOHS

Zane Musgrove — Ankle — Indefinite

Tyrell Fuimaono — Toe — Round 10

Richard Kennar — Hamstring — Round 6

COWBOYS

Shaun Fensom — Broken leg — Round 6

Kane Linnett — Pectoral — Round 13

Jordan McLean — Foot — Round 15

SEA EAGLES

Jorge Taufua — Collarbone — Round 12

Tom Trbojevic — Ankle — Round 6

Curtis Sironen — Knee — Season

Kelepi Tanginoa — Knee — Season

RAIDERS

Josh Hodgson — ACL — Round 18

Charlie Gubb — Groin — Round 10

Royce Hunt — Knee — Round 6-7

Sam Williams — Knee — TBC

Michael Oldfield — Concussion — Round 6

Ata Hingano — Concussion — Round 6

Luke Bateman — Concussion — Round 6

STORM

Dale Finucane in hospital after surgery. Source: Instagram

Sandor Earl — ACL — Late July

Jahrome Hughes — Shoulder — Round 6

Cheyse Blair — Knee — Round 7

Dale Finucane — Thumb — Round 9

TITANS

Brendan Elliott — Ankle — Round 6

Will Matthews — Knee — Round 6

WESTS TIGERS

Josh Reynolds — Hamstring — Round 6

Elijah Taylor — Hamstring — Round 6

ROOSTERS

Bernard Lewis — ACL — Season

Daniel Tupou — Torn pectoral — Round 12-14