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Barnett's Bad Luck: Thumb Injury Hits Warriors Captain Again
31 Mar
Summary
- Warriors captain Mitch Barnett broke his thumb in the loss to Wests Tigers.
- The injury will sideline him for an estimated four to six weeks.
- This is Barnett's second injury layoff after a recent ACL recovery.
New Zealand Warriors captain Mitch Barnett is experiencing a continued run of bad luck with injuries, with his thumb now broken. This latest blow occurred during the Warriors' 14-32 defeat against the Wests Tigers on Friday night. The 31-year-old forward is expected to be out of action for approximately four to six weeks.
Barnett had only just made his return to the field in Round 3 against Newcastle, marking his comeback after being sidelined for 10 months due to an ACL injury. The news of his broken thumb was initially shared through now-deleted social media posts by Barnett and his wife.
This season is Barnett's last with the Warriors, as he has signed a two-year deal with the Brisbane Broncos from 2027. His departure is on compassionate grounds, with the Warriors granting him a release. Barnett has had a distinguished career, including a State of Origin debut for New South Wales in 2024 and 179 NRL games played.