Eels coach Brad Arthur scrambling to replace injured hooker Kaysa Pritchard

PARRAMATTA coach Brad Arthur has a week to figure out who’ll be his No. 9 for the rest of the season following a serious injury to Kaysa Pritchard.

Kaysa Pritchard will miss the rest of the season. Picture: Mark Evans

PARRAMATTA coach Brad Arthur admits he has no idea who will replace Kaysa Pritchard at starting hooker after the Samoan international suffered a season-ending knee injury on the weekend.

Eels officials confirmed Pritchard will undergo surgery in the coming days after he tore his lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) during a tackle in the first half against St George Illawarra on Sunday.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Arthur was shattered to lose his starting hooker for the season.

Kaysa Pritchard will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Picture: Brett Costello

With Isaac De Gois already sidelined and facing the prospect of an early retirement due to concussion, the Eels now have a huge hole to fill in the hooker role.

Wentworthville No. 9 Cameron King would be the most logical replacement for Pritchard, but Arthur said he was undecided who would play No. 9 for the rest of the season.

“I don’t know, but I have a week to work it out,” Arthur said about deciding on a replacement hooker given Parramatta has the bye this weekend.

Cameron King is a contender to play hooker for the Eels.

“But I’m very disappointed for Kaysa and the club.

“He was starting to fit into the role nicely.”

Pritchard has a year to run on his contract at Parramatta and Arthur said the 23-year-old would remain part of the club’s long-term plans.

Kaysa Pritchard has a year to run on his contract at Parramatta. Picture: Mark Evans

“We will still support him as our hooker moving forward,” he said.

In a double blow, Parramatta could also be without veteran back-rower Beau Scott for an extended period due to an elbow injury.