Canberra skipper Jarrod Croker is set to miss the first three weeks of the NRL season after suffering a knee injury in the All Stars match.
The World All Stars centre was taken from McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Saturday following a frightening incident in the 30th minute when his left leg buckled under him in a three-man tackle.
Croker tweeted the poor prognosis on Saturday, following the Indigenous All Stars team’s 34-8 win over the World side.
“Thanks for all the kind messages of support, it means a lot,” Croker wrote.
“Dislocated knee cap, very disappointing! Hopefully around 6 weeks (out).”
Croker immediately looked in pain and pounded the turf in frustration after the injury.
At this stage he is scheduled to return when Canberra head north to play Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium in round four.
Croker’s loss is a body blow for Ricky Stuart’s Raiders who are highly fancied following their second-place finish last year.
Croker was not the only player to suffer a potentially concerning injury.
World All Stars captain Jake Friend limped from the field in the first half, however later returned and dismissed it as just a cork.
His Sydney Roosters teammate Blake Ferguson also hobbled from the field, however he told the Nine Network he had suffered a contusion.
Ken (Sava) Lloyd
Guest
I only saw that tackle in a grab on the TV news and I was upset with the ferocity of the tacklers,this bloke is a Champion and is the Lynchpin of the Canberra team ,I wish him a fast recovery and I have put a curse on the three brutes that did it to him. Sava.
bear54
The premiership won't be won in the first month of the season. The Raiders need depth and this is a good way to prove it.
Footy 101
Guest
He'll be back and firing before you know it. The Raiders have good depth
kk
Roar Pro
Sadly, an occupational hazard for one of the fairest players in the NRL. Vikings Ltd dropped 10 points overnight. Hope its 6 and not 8 weeks out.