David Fifita is in a race against time to play in the State of Origin series opener after scans confirm a knee injury for the Queensland star.
Gold Coast’s shocking start to the NRL season was made worse on Sunday with news that Fifita would miss up to four weeks with a grade two MCL sprain.
The 22-year-old limped off the field in the Titans’ 18-4 loss to Penrith on Friday-evening, marking their sixth loss in eight games this year.
Scans have since confirmed the injury, with the club revealing that Fifita will miss up to a month.
If Fifita has to miss that long, he won’t be playing again until Billy Slater names the Maroons team for Origin I in Sydney on June 8.
Despite Gold Coast often being criticized for not including the second rower in competitions, Fifita is still one of their best players this season.
In a double blow to the club, the Titans have lost center Patrick Herbert to a fractured cheekbone with medical staff weighing in on whether he needs surgery.