The Parramatta Eels have announced that teenage winger Arthur Miller-Stephen will miss the entire 2024 NRL season due to a’serious knee injury.’
It’s unknown how or when the injury occurred for the NRL rookie, who spent the rest of the season with the Parramatta Eels’ NSW Cup team, which failed to make the playoffs.
Miller-Stephen, a young fullback who can also play on the wing, made his NRL debut against the St George Illawarra Dragons in Round 23 of the 2023 season, crossing for a touchdown.
However, his favorite position is fullback, where he played nine games for the NSW Cup squad this year, scoring four tries and assisting on another five. In those nine games, he had 23 tackle breaks and ran for an average of 137 meters.
The injury is a devastating setback for the rising gun, who may have found himself in line for more first-grade play this year with Parramatta’s outside backs still a source of concern.
In the outside backs, Parramatta has revealed that Daejarn Asi tore a tendon in his finger while playing for Samoa in the recent Pacific Bowl event, and is likely to return to training in the new year following surgery.
Forward Makahesi Makatoa was also hurt while playing for the Cook Islands during the Pacific Bowl, suffering a torn pectoral muscle; he has had surgery and is expected to return in the new year.
Junior Paulo will also not exercise until the new year after undergoing surgery for a persistent toe issue, while Clint Gutherson may be in a race against time to be ready for Round 1 after sustaining a knee injury in the final round – the club is hoping he will be back jogging by Christmas.
In brighter news, Matt Doorey and Zac Cini have regained full fitness and have begun training again.
