The Canberra Raiders have been dealt an early-season injury setback after forward Matty Nicholson was advised to undergo shoulder reconstruction surgery, raising fears that his involvement in the current National Rugby League campaign could be significantly limited.
The English forward has struggled with recurring shoulder problems and is expected to go under the knife as soon as possible following medical consultations. Specialists reportedly recommended surgical intervention after Nicholson suffered multiple dislocations in recent weeks, making a long-term solution necessary to prevent the issue from continuing.
Nicholson most recently partially dislocated his shoulder during the Raiders’ reserve-grade fixture in the NSW Cup last weekend. The injury was a worrying repeat of the same problem he experienced only two weeks earlier during a preseason clash against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. With the instability persisting, the medical advice was clear: surgery offered the best chance of a full recovery.
Initial estimates suggest Nicholson could be sidelined for between three and five months while recovering and completing rehabilitation. Although that timeline threatens to rule him out for a large portion of the season, the Raiders are not yet prepared to declare his year over and will monitor his progress closely in the hope he could return before the campaign concludes.
The injury represents another frustrating chapter for the forward since his move to Canberra. Nicholson joined the Raiders ahead of the 2025 season on a contract running until 2027 but has struggled to build consistent momentum due to fitness issues. Last season he missed roughly four months after suffering a fractured fibula and a syndesmosis injury.
As a result of those setbacks, Nicholson has managed only 12 appearances for Canberra since arriving at the club. His latest injury therefore comes as a major blow both to the player and to the Raiders’ forward rotation as they attempt to build early-season momentum.
While surgery now appears unavoidable, the Raiders will remain hopeful that a successful recovery could allow Nicholson to return later in the year and finally establish himself as a consistent presence in the club’s pack.
