Melbourne Storm winger Matt Duffie out of finals with shoulder injury

MELBOURNE Storm look set to lose Matt Duffie for the remainder of the NRL season with the winger likely to need immediate surgery on his shoulder.

MELBOURNE Storm look set to lose Matt Duffie for the remainder of the NRL season with the winger likely to need immediate surgery on his shoulder.

The 22-year-old made a comeback from a dislocated left shoulder in the NSW Cup on Saturday after missing the Storm's one-point win over Brisbane.

He initially suffered the injury against North Queensland just over a month ago.

Despite playing out the 80 minutes in Sydney, Duffie felt restricted during the game with the shoulder not as strong as he'd hoped.

Storm football manager Frank Ponissi said a decision would be made on Wednesday after he consulted a team doctor when the first grade team got back from a training camp on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Duffie was always going to have surgery on the joint at the end of the season but hoped rehabilitation would allow him to take part in the Storm's finals campaign.

"He got through the 80 minutes, which was positive, but it hasn't come on as good as we'd hoped," said Ponissi.

"He's been working on strengthening his shoulder so it was strong enough to play in a game.

"It's stronger than when he first did it and he's got more mobility but not to the degree that will allow him to play close to his maximum."

Kiwi-born Duffie also had surgery on the same shoulder at the end of last season that made him unavailable for Four Nations selection after playing one Test earlier in the year.

Ponissi said that forward Ryan Hoffman will wear a moon-boot on his foot as a precaution this week but will train on Friday and isn't in any doubt for their next match, against the Sharks in Melbourne on Monday night.

The Storm can effectively seal a top two berth with a win.

Another Storm winger Sisa Waqa, who scored two tries against the Broncos, was given leave to miss the training camp after his wife gave birth to their third child - their first girl - just before kick-off.