Melbourne prop Christian Welch is hoping to be back this year but the season is over for George Jennings after a horror injury toll in their win over the Wests Tigers.

Kiwi forward Brandon Smith is also facing 3-6 weeks out with a broken hand while young forward Trent Loiero has become the first player to be charged under the NRL’s new judiciary rules.

Jennings has a torn ACL while Welch, who ruptured his Achilles in the dying stages of the match, took to social media to put his injury into perspective.

“Thankyou to everyone for the kind messages, really helped pick me up. If a dud achilles is the worst of my issues I’ve got it pretty good compared to so many other Aussies out there battling away. Op tomorrow and I’ll be doing everything I can to try get back out there in 2022.”

Loiero was pulled up for a cannonball tackle on Luciano Leilua in the 29th minute of his side’s opening round victory. The tackle amounted to a Grade 1 dangerous contact charge, worth a $1000 fine, or $1500 if contested at the judiciary.

Under the new regime, points have been abolished and fines instituted for the lowest category of charge. Grade 1 dangerous contact charges, such as Loiero’s, will typically be dealt with via increasing fines rather than suspensions, as was previously the case.

Canterbury lost four players to concussions during Sunday night’s 6-4 win over the Cowboys with Chris Patolo, centres Braidon Burns and Brent Naden, and Jeremy Marshall-King to head knocks during the game, activating 18th player Aaron Schoupp.

Eels winger Sean Russell was taken to hospital earlier on Sunday after he suffered rib damage in the narrow win over Gold Coast and is likely to be out a month.

Manly’s Karl Lawton only lasted two minutes in his season debut after copping a heavy knock against the Panthers.

Lawton, who came off the interchange bench in the 28-6 loss to Penrith, got his head into an awkward position while trying to make a tackle and was taken from the field and did not return.

He will need to pass the concussion protocols to be able to play next Friday against the Roosters at the SCG.

Roosters lock Victor Radley (concussion) and rake Sam Verrills (thumb), and Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson (knee) are also under a cloud.

NRL injuries and suspensions, team by team

Broncos

Adam Reynolds (COVID, Round 2)
Kobe Hetherington (COVID, Round 2)
Brendan Piakura (suspended, Round 2)
Tesi Niu (hamstring, Round 3)
Thomas Flegler (suspended, Round 4)
Xavier Willison (knee, mid-season)

Bulldogs

Chris Patolo (concussion, TBC)
Jeremy Marshall-King (concussion, TBC)
Brent Naden (concussion, TBC)
Braidon Burns (concussion, TBC)
Raymond Faitala-Mariner (foot, Round 2-3)
Matt Doorey (knee, mid-season)

Cowboys

Lachlan Burr (hip – early retirement)
Ben Hampton (hamstring, Round 2)

Dragons

Billy Burns (foot, Round 2)
Jayden Sullivan (hamstring (Round 2)
Max Feagai (ankle, indefinite)
Josh McGuire (suspended, Round 6)

Eels

Marata Niukore (suspended, Round 2)
Sean Russell (ribs, TBC)
Maika Sivo (knee, June-July)
Haze Dunster (knee, season)

Knights

Sauaso Sue (suspended, Round 3)
Daniel Saifiti (leg, Round 4)
Jayden Brailey (Achilles, June-July)
Bailey Hodgson (elbow, indefinite)
Hymel Hunt (knee, indefinite)

Panthers

Nathan Cleary (shoulder, Round 4)
Mavrik Geyer (elbow, TBC)

Rabbitohs

Latrell Mitchell (suspended, Round 2)
Liam Knight (ankle, Round 5)

Raiders

Josh Hodgson (knee, TBC)
Sam Williams (COVID, Round 2)
Peter Hola (knee, Round 2-4)
Jordan Rapana (suspended, Round 3)
Jamal Fogarty (knee, Round 15)
Harley Smith-Shields (ACL, season)

Roosters

Victor Radley (concussion, Round 2)
Sam Verrills (thumb, Round 5-6)
Joseph Suaalii (foot, Round 3-4)

Joseph Suaalii. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Sea Eagles

Karl Lawton (concussion, Round 2-3)
Dylan Walker (leg, Round 2)
Josh Schuster (ankle, Round 3-5)
Ben Trbojevic (knee, Round 3-5)
Josh Aloiai (suspended, Round 4)

Sharks

Connor Tracey (groin, Round 2)
Jack Williams (knee, Round 2)
Cameron McInnes (knee, Round 2)
Franklin Pele (suspended, Round 2)
Braydon Trindall (suspended, Round 3)
Wade Graham (ankle, Round 4-6)

Storm

Jesse Bromwich (COVID close contact, Round 1)
Harry Grant (suspended, Round 2)
Cameron Munster (suspended, Round 2)
Chris Lewis (suspended, Round 2)
Cooper Johns (shoulder, Round 3-5)
Brandon Smith (hand, Round 4-7)
Christian Welch (Achilles, season)
George Jennings (knee, season)
Tui Kamikamica (stood down)

(Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Tigers

James Tamou (suspended, Round 2)
Jacob Liddle (knee, Round 4-6)
Adam Doueihi (knee, Round 8-14)
Tommy Talau (knee, mid-season)
Asu Kepaoa (pectoral, mid-season)
Shawn Blore (ACL, season)

Titans

Joe Vuna (knee, mid-season)

Warriors

Matt Lodge (suspended, Round 2)
Reece Walsh (suspended, Round 2)
Tohu Harris (knee, June-July)