Sydney Roosters back-rower Nat Butcher has suffered a devastating setback, reinjuring the same knee that kept him sidelined for months, just eight minutes into his return match.
Playing in the NSW Cup on the weekend after recovering from a knee issue sustained in April, Butcher’s long-awaited comeback was tragically short-lived.
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He left the field clutching his right leg in visible pain, and the club has now confirmed the worst: a full medial ligament (MCL) reconstruction is needed.
Long road back, again
In a statement released on Monday, the Roosters revealed that Butcher had sustained a recurrence of the MCL injury to his right knee. After consulting with specialists, it was determined that surgery is the only option.
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While the club hasn't provided an official return date, full MCL reconstructions typically involve a six to nine-month recovery period, meaning the 26-year-old is unlikely to feature in the early rounds of the 2026 season.
The timing couldn’t be worse for the Roosters either, who are in the thick of their finals push for 2025 and had been counting on Butcher’s return to bolster their forward depth.
Butcher remains contracted with the club until the end of 2027, but for now, his focus turns to yet another gruelling rehab stint.