Broncos winger's leg saved by surgery after rare injury

Hislop praised the care Mariner received from the "wonderful staff at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital" in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The 23-year-old left the field in the 35th minute but returned in the 65th to finish the match. Players often return to play after corks and the Broncos medical team, including long-serving doctor Hislop, assessed Mariner as fit to play on.

"It is very important to put out a timeline of how quickly this, thankfully rare, injury can progress and Deine has provided his consent for his situation to be shared," Hislop said.

"Deine sustained a nasty cork to his right quad late in the first half of the Roosters game and was assessed, strapped and padded before showing he could run.

"He kept the leg mobile and remained available, returning to the field with 15 minutes to go in the second half.

"By the time we were in the hotel just before midnight his quad was swollen, but he was clinically OK, neuro-vascularly intact and able to finish dinner and go to bed."

Hislop was then called to go Mariner's bedside at 1.30am and it became clear that his thigh had deteriorated. 

"He was in significant pain, and the thigh was very firm," he said.

"We performed an ultrasound in the hope of draining a haematoma, but the swelling was diffused within the muscle and there was nothing to drain.

"Thankfully Deine still had functioning nerves and arteries in his leg, but it was apparent he was developing an acute compartment syndrome and an ambulance was called."

Paramedics were able to provide much needed pain relief and Mariner was transferred to the RPA emergency department, where doctors were able to measure the pressure inside the muscle, which was quite elevated.

"A decision was made to perform limb saving surgery and Deine was taken to theatre in the early hours of Sunday morning," Hislop said.

"The length of recovery will be determined as the swelling in the muscle resolves."

Mariner's saga comes as 14 Broncos are either out or in doubt for Saturday night's away clash with Manly.

Broncos winger Josiah Karapani is in doubt with a ligament sprain in his ankle after there were concerns he had suffered a more serious injury.

Centre Kotoni Staggs is suspended, so that opens the door for rookie Antonio Verhoeven who impressed on NRL debut against the Gold Coast.

Phillip Coates, the 19-year-old brother of Melbourne flyer Xavier Coates, is in contention for an NRL debut.

Coates has been on fire for the Burleigh Bears in the Hostplus Cup and would enter the clash with the Sea Eagles on a high if selected.