Gold Coast captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui's season has been ended after scans revealed he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in Saturday's Round 3 clash against the Bulldogs.
The injury is a devastating blow to the Gold Coast forward and the Maroons, as Fa’asuamaleaui was set to feature in this year's State of Origin series.
The representative prop was assisted from the field in the 66th minute at Belmore on Saturday after his right knee twisted in a tackle when he was carrying the football.
The injury has left the Titans in a dire situation after their winless start to the season. They recorded a 28-4 loss to St George Illawarra in round one, when Fa'asuamaleaui ran for 182 metres and made 28 tackles in a stand-out display in a badly beaten team.
The loss of Fa'asuamaleaui is a devastating blow to the Titans' finals hopes and leaves coach Des Hasler with a massive void in what has already been an underwhelming start to the season.
The injury is also a dagger in the heart of Queensland ahead of this year's State of Origin series, as the 24-year-old was set to feature for the Maroons.
Fa'asuamaleaui had scans in Sydney on Saturday night after the Titans' 32-0 loss and a further analysis by a club doctor on Sunday morning revealed the worst possible news.
According to the NRL Physio, Fa’asuamaleaui’s rehabilitation could take at least nine months.
The Titans have already had an injury-ravaged start to the season with fullback Jayden Campbell (patella) and second-rower David Fifita (torn pectoral) yet to play in the NRL.
Campbell returned to action on Saturday in the Queensland Cup with Tweed Heads and could be available for the round four NRL clash with the Dolphins on Saturday at Robina.
In a positive development, Queensland powerhouse Fifita trained the past fortnight without a pink no-contact bib after he tore a pec at training in December.
Campbell and Fifita will add strike to the Titans but Fa'asuamaleaui is the side's spiritual leader and for far too long has carried the team on his back.
His loss is a devastating blow to the Titans' finals hopes and leaves coach Des Hasler with a massive void in what has already been a most underwhelming start to the season.
The injury is also a dagger in the heart of the Maroons ahead of this year's State of Origin series - the Titans skipper has played 12 consecutive Origin matches in which the Maroons have won three series.
His setback comes on the back of Queensland also losing Dolphins forward Tom Gilbert to a season-ending ACL injury.
The incident came late in Gold Coast's 32-0 loss at the hands of Canterbury, with their captain in agony on the turf after a tackle from Max king.
The Gold Coast forward has been the heart and soul of the Titans since joining the club in 2021, with his strong carries and bone-rattling defence setting the tone on the field.
Off the field, the Australian and Samoan international has become a leader despite still being in the early stages of his NRL career with less than 100 appearances.
Fa'asuamaleaui signed a bumper contract extension last year, which will see him remain at the Titans until the end of 2033.
His absence will leave a major hole in the Gold Coast forward pack, with the likes of Moeaki Fotuaika and Keenan Palasia now expected to stand up and perform.
It continues a horror start to the season for new coach Des Hasler, with his team losing in convincing fashion to the Dogs and Dragons - two sides that finished in the bottom-four last season and aren't tipped to feature in the finals in 2024.
