North Queensland have been struck a blow in just the third minute of the NRL grand final with prop Shaun Fensom taken from the field with a serious leg injury.
Fensom was taken from ANZ Stadium on a medicab after being felled in a collision with teammate Ethan Lowe. It reduced the Cowboys to 16 men.
After Melbourne prop Jesse Bromwich made a break through the middle of the field, Fensom tried to make a covering tackle but was injured in the process.
Lowe’s body was slung around with his legs striking Fensom on his left knee and lower leg.
Play was held up for 10 minutes as Fensom was attended to by medical staff and given pain killers.
The former Canberra forward, 29, who joined the Cowboys in the pre-season, gave a thumbs up to the crowd as he was taken from the field.
Fensom, wearing the No.17 jersey, was a late addition to the Cowboys starting side for John Asiata.
