NRL casualty ward: Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller suffers suspected ACL tear

After enjoying a breakout rookie season, Dolphins star Trai Fuller could be looking at a lengthy stint on the sidelines after suffering a suspected ACL injury in the Hostplus Cup.

The Dolphins face a nervous wait after livewire fullback Trai Fuller suffered a suspected ACL injury in Redcliffe’s 17-16 preliminary final defeat of Northern Pride in the Hostplus Cup on Saturday.

Brilliant custodian Fuller is out of next week’s grand final after sustaining what appeared to be a serious knee injury in the Dolphins’ nailbiting one-point win at Barlow Park in Cairns.

Fuller was one of the discoveries of the NRL season with the late-blooming 27-year-old impressing in 11 games for the Dolphins and filling in at fullback when superstar Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was injured.

But there are fears Fuller could miss the start of the 2025 NRL premiership after he collapsed midway through the second half of the Hostplus Cup grand-final qualifier.

With the Dolphins out of the NRL finals race, Fuller was eligible for the Hostplus Cup finals and opted to play against the Pride, opening the scoring with a try in the fifth minute.

Trai Fuller could be force to undergo a knee reconstruction. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

But disaster struck in the 60th minute when Fuller stepped off his left foot and hit the deck immediately without a Pride defender placing a hand on him.

A shattered Fuller hobbled off with the assistance of Dolphins trainers and will undergo scans to determine if he has snapped his anterior cruciate ligament or suffered a less serious MCL or PCL injury.

A ruptured ACL would require a knee reconstruction and sideline Fuller for around nine months. That scenario could see Fuller miss the entire 2025 pre-season and not be available until at least June next year.

Valynce Te Whare (East Tamaki) 2 tries for Redcliffe in Queensland Cup #KiwiNRLpic.twitter.com/vAZHVoRsTc

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) September 10, 2024

Such was his outstanding 2024 campaign, Fuller attracted interest from the Broncos as a back-up for Reece Walsh, but he opted to sign a two-year extension with the Dolphins.

Fuller scored four tries in the NRL this season, including a brilliant solo effort against Parramatta in round 7, with the pint-sized 170cm dynamo’s courage applauded by Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett.

“Every team needs a player like Trai Fuller,” he said last week. “Trai has great instincts and plays with great bravery.

“It was hard to get him into the team because we have ‘Hammer’ (Tabuai-Fidow) at fullback, but there’s no doubt in my mind Trai is an NRL player.

“It was a pleasure to coach him.”

Originally published as NRL casualty ward: Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller suffers suspected ACL tear