Cruel injury blow for Christian Welch could cost Maroons prop more than a million

A cruel twist of fate could cost Christian Welch more than a million dollars with a club set to pull an offer for the Maroons prop.

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Christian Welch’s decision to delay agreeing to a three-year deal with the Eels could cost the Storm prop more than $1 million after he was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Scans confirmed the 25-year-old’s worst fears after he limped from the field during Melbourne’s win against Brisbane on Friday night.

The knee injury has now put Parramatta’s three-year $1.5 million dollar deal in serious jeopardy with the Eels likely to baulk at splashing that much cash on a player who is expected to miss the start of the new season.

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Christian Welch suffered an ACL injury against Brisbane. Picture: Bradley Kanaris

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It is a cruel blow for Welch who has come of age on and off the field this year having made his Origin debut for Queensland.

Negotiations between Welch and the Eels were advanced with the deal on offer for the past few weeks. He had met with Parramatta coaching staff and had toured the club’s facilities.

The Queensland prop had a big money offer to join the Eels. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Parramatta were also interested in bringing Welch to the club for the amount of good work he does off the field.

The Eels may put in a heavily reduced offer to Welch with the club desperate to beef-up their front-row stocks for the start of the season.

They have been linked with Penrith prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard.

Welch took up a year option with the Storm earlier this year when there were fears he had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in May.

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A second diagnosis showing meniscus damage ruled him out for just one week.

But this time he has not been as lucky.

It is the second time in three years Welch will miss a finals campaign after suffering a knee injury during the Storm’s 2017 premiership-winning season.

Originally published as Cruel injury blow for Christian Welch could cost Maroons prop more than a million