Brisbane’s crucial Q-Clash win over Gold Coast on Sunday night came at a cost.
Both Darcy Gardiner and Lincoln McCarthy went down with what appear to be serious knee injuries, while Brandon Starcevich hurt his calf in the warm-up and Noah Answerth was concussed.
Lions veteran Dayne Zorko, who was superb in the much-needed 34-point win, says the club believes both Gardiner and McCarthy have sustained ACL injuries.
“We’re nearly 100 per cent sure that both ‘Dizzy’ (Darcy Gardiner) and ‘Linc’ McCarthy have done their ACLs,” Zorko said on SENQ Breakfast.
“Linc has done one in the past so he knew exactly the feeling. That’s dreadful news on his front.
“If you have a look at both of them on replay, Linc’s was absolutely nothing. It was a slight little push-off.
“Darcy’s just buckled underneath when he tried to plant his leg. Talking to Darcy after the game he reckons that was some of the most extraordinary pain he’s been in. He was squeezing the trainer’s hand that hard and he’s as tough as they come.
“They’ll get scans and find out the extent, but it doesn’t look great.
“A really sour note on what was a great night in our club’s history.”
Gardiner and McCarthy are likely to join Keidean Coleman, Will Ashcroft and Tom Doedee as Lions who are sidelined with ACL injuries.
As for Starcevich and Answerth, their injuries aren’t quite as serious.
“The Starcevich one was so innocuous,” Zorko added.
“We were just warming up, he pushed off and he just said, ‘It’s gone, I’ve lost all power’.
“He’ll get scans today (Monday) or tomorrow. The extent of that injury we’re not sure but it didn’t sound great.
“Noah actually passed his concussion tests throughout the game but he didn’t look right. The doctor made the right decision there given the concussion protocols now.”
The Lions entered the Q-Clash in desperate need of a win and despite the injuries led from the first bounce in their 79-45 triumph.
That result has pushed them to 13th on the ladder with a 3-5 record after Round 8.
