Mitchell Pearce will require surgery on a torn pectoral muscle that is expected to sideline the Newcastle halfback for up to 10 weeks.
It comes as the Knights have once again signalled their interest in acquiring the immediate services of dumped Cowboys halfback Jake Clifford ahead of his arrival in Newcastle next season.
Mitchell Pearce is expected to be sidelined for 10 weeks.Credit: NRL Photos
The Cowboys axed the Newcastle-bound Clifford last week, with Knights officials asking North Queensland if they would grant the playmaker an immediate release if they have no intention of playing him in first grade.
The Cowboys are refusing to budge despite the Knights’ grim predicament on the injury front.
Pearce, who left the field in the first half of Sunday’s loss to St George Illawarra, had scans on the injury on Monday afternoon.
The scans revealed the halfback requires surgery immediately, but the club is hopeful he will be back on deck by round 14 when the Knights take on South Sydney at Stadium Australia on June 12.
The Knights have been decimated with injury and will struggle to name a 21-man squad on Tuesday and may have to seek an exemption from the NRL to name players outside their top 30.
The Knights still want Jake Clifford this season.Credit: Getty
“I don’t think I’ll be able to name 21 [on Tuesday],” O’Brien said after the game. “Naming the team is probably going to be a real big hurdle this week.”
Knights prop David Klemmer also underwent an MRI scan on Monday. The news isn’t as bad for the Newcastle enforcer, who has been cleared of a major injury despite playing the last 30 minutes with a knee injury.
Klemmer is touch-and-go to play against the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday, however the six day turnaround may be a factor as Newcastle look to bounce back from their 22-13 loss to the Dragons.,
Tex Hoy is expected to miss at least two weeks with a hamstring injury, while Kurt Mann is highly unlikely to play after suffering a heavy concussion at the hands of Mikaele Ravalawa.
Knights big man Jacob Saifiti will miss 1-2 weeks after he was charged with a shoulder charge on Ravalawa in the same tackle.
In good news for the Knights, fullback Kalyn Ponga will return from injury after he had offseason surgery on a shoulder complaint that saw him miss last year’s State of Origin series.