Lote Tuqiri’s NRL season – and possibly Wests Tigers career – is over after the dual international suffered a broken arm in his side’s 32-20 loss to Canterbury on Friday night.
Tuqiri was a victim of friendly fire when teammate Adam Blair came in from the side and crunched his arm as the veteran winger clung onto Bulldogs back-rower Dene Halatau.
He was taken from the field and rushed to a nearby hospital where X-rays showed a break above his elbow to end his injury-riddled season after just 12 games.
Worse still, with no contract for next season, the 32-year-old’s time with the Tigers and the NRL is in extreme doubt.
Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys said no decision had been made on Tuqiri’s future, with the winger’s health his primary concern.
“Right now our focus is on trying to comfort him and his wife, book the hospital and surgery over the weekend,” Humphreys said.
“In terms of his playing future that will sort itself out in the next few weeks.
“Lote’s keen to continue playing and this would not be a good way for him to end.
“What he was focusing on was trying to get a good bank of footy over the next month to demonstrate his capability.
“That’s sadly not going to be the case. We’re just going to have to work out what we’re going to do over the next few weeks.”
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