Canberra Raiders: Sia Soliola gets 20 screws in face after surgery | photo

The extent of Sia Soliola’s horror facial injury has been revealed with the Canberra forward needing at least 20 screws to put his face back together. See the incredible before and after images here.

Canberra Raiders star Sia Soliola has had major surgery on his face. Pictures Instagram

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Canberra’s Sia Soliola was quickly dubbed the ‘Terminator’ after the forward revealed his new face, complete with at least 20 surgical screws.

Soliola shared the graphic images on social media on Wednesday after successfully going under the knife to repair multiple facial fractures suffered during the Raiders’ round eight victory against St George Illawarra.

Soliola was inundated with messages of support, with former South Sydney hardman Roy Asotasi labelling Soliola ‘The Terminator”.

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Canberra Raiders star Sia Soliola has had major surgery on his face. Pictures Instagram

Canberra Raiders star Sia Soliola has had major surgery on his face. Pictures Instagram

The untimely injury isn’t only a major blow to the Raiders forward pack but also to Soliola’s NRL career.

Soliola, 33, is off contract at the end of the season and a three to four month recovery has all but ended his season, raising questions about his playing future beyond this year.

Fellow big man Emre Guler also suffered a long-term ankle injury against the Dragons last weekend. It’s expected Guler will miss up to 10 weeks of football.

Canberra Raiders star Sia Soliola has had major surgery on his face. Pictures Instagram

Sia Soliola before surgery. Picture: Instagram

With backrower John Bateman (shoulder) and utility Corey Horsburgh (foot) also sidelined, the news about Soliola and Guler has plunged the Raiders into an injury crisis.

Canberra released young forward Jack Murchie in May to the New Zealand Warriors and lost JJ Collins and Luke Bateman to retirement earlier this year.

With his forward stocks stretched to their limits, coach Ricky Stuart has recalled Dunamis Lui into the starting side and will blood development player Kai O’Donnell off the bench.

Stuart is also tipped to go into the player market to help replenish his forward stocks with 12-straight NRL games plus a finals series still left to contend before the conclusion of the season in late October.

Originally published as Canberra Raiders: Sia Soliola gets 20 screws in face after surgery | photo