Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan is sidelined from pre-season training by a broken thumb as well as an ankle injury.

Sloan suffered syndesmosis playing in the Koori Knockout in October and later broke his thumb, ruling out of training until mid-December.

“We’ve had a major, major hiccup with him suffering a syndesmosis in the [Koori] Knockout, which is unfortunate, and then he broke his thumb so everything I had planned for him in early December went out the window, but we’ll get there,” Flanagan told NRL.com in a wide-ranging interview about his plans for the Dragons.

Teenage Bulldogs playmaker Karl Oloapu is yet to decide whether to undergo surgery for a neck injury that has placed his immediate playing future in doubt.

Oloapu made his NRL debut for Canterbury last season but there is uncertainty about when the 18-year-old will play his next game after being told he requires surgery for a bulging disc.

English international Kai Pearce-Paul is set for surgery on a toe injury he has been managing for more than 12 months before moving to Newcastle.

Knights officials confirmed that after reviews by their medical and performance team it was decided that surgery was the best course of action for the 22-year-old forward.

Pearce-Paul, who has joined the Knights from Wigan, was due to commence official training and club commitments on November 23 with an eye to being available for selection in the early rounds of the 2024 season.

Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen is heading back to the USA in December to work with reconditioning specialist Bill Knowles as he continues his rehabilitation from an ankle injury.

Papenhuyzen spent time with Knowles in Philadelphia last January as he worked his way back from a fractured kneecap suffered late in the 2022 season against Canberra.

“Paps is going really well, his recovery has been solid,” Storm CEO Justin Rodski said. “He is heading back to see Bill Knowles and he is doing that of his own accord. It’s something he felt really passionate about.

“By all accounts he will be back running in January and everything going well he’s every chance to be back for Round 1.”

The Storm also expect winger Xavier Coates to be back training at the start of December after he suffered an ankle injury in the same game as Papenhuyzen.

Eels rookie Arthur Miller-Stephen has been ruled out of the 2024 season after suffering a serious knee injury. The club confirmed that the fullback, who made his NRL debut last season, has now undergone surgery on the injury and will miss the entire 2024 campaign.

The news is much better for star half Mitch Moses, who has returned to full training for the first time since suffering the fractured eye socket which cut his 2023 NRL season short.

Parramatta co-captain Clint Gutherson remains on track to be fit for Round 1 following surgery on a knee injury suffered in the last game of the season. Prop Junior Paulo recently underwent surgery on a chronic toe injury, along with half Daejarn Asi (finger) and forward Makahesi Makatoa (pectoral) who required surgery after being hurt while playing in the Pacific Championships.

All will be restricted to light duties until post-Christmas but are right for Round 1.

New Roosters recruit Dom Young was ruled out of England’s Test series against Tonga after a sinus infection spread throughout his head and forced him to be hospitalised. Young is reported to be on the mend and is expected to make a full recovery in time for his new club’s 2024 season opener in Las Vegas.