Arthur Miller-Stephen of the Parramatta Eels has been ruled out for the whole 2024 season due to a major knee injury sustained during a training session.
The 2003-born full-back made his NRL debut in Round 23 of the 2023 season, scoring the opening try in a 26-20 home victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Miller-Stephen, who is also capable of playing on the wing, is a Queensland native who played for Mackay Cutters before joining Parramatta in 2022.
After appearing nine times for the Eels’ New South Wales Cup team this year, scoring four tries, it appeared that 2024 could be another season of improvement, but this injury has put an end to those hopes.
The Parramatta Eels have provided an injury update, with rising gun Arthur Miller-Stephen declared out for the whole 2024 NRL season.
Brad Arthur’s men will attempt to improve on their 10th-place result on the ladder this season in 2024. They posted an injury report on their club website earlier today, with Miller-Stephen being the worst afflicted of the eight players identified.
Clint Gutherson, the team’s co-captain, is also rehabilitating from a knee injury sustained in their final game of the 2023 season, with ‘hopes’ to be ready for the start of the new season.
Daejarn Asi and Makahesi Makatoa both suffered injuries after competing for Samoa and the Cook Islands in the Pacific Championships this autumn.
Back Asi tore a finger tendon, while forward Makatoa tore a pectoral muscle. Both of those players had surgery on their injuries and are expected to return to training in the new year, although no specific timetable has been determined.
In January, they will be joined on the training pitch by co-captain Junior Paulo, who underwent surgery at the end of the season to treat what has been characterized as a “chronic toe injury.”
More encouragingly for the Blue and Golds, three of their pack have returned to training this week, freeing up some room on the treatment table.
Mitchell Moses has recovered from a shattered eye socket, and Matt Doorey and Zac Cini, who were both injured at the end of the 2023 season, are now back to full fitness.
