North Queensland have been struck a blow in just the third minute of the NRL grand final with prop Shaun Fensom hospitalised with a serious leg injury.

Fensom was driven from the field at ANZ Stadium on a medicab and taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg following a collision with teammate Ethan Lowe.

The Cowboys were reduced to 16 men, throwing coach Paul Green’s forward rotation into disarray.

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 lower left leg.

The Nine Network reported the 29-year-old had suffered a suspected broken tibia, or the main bone in the 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, who joined the Cowboys in the pre-season, gave a thumbs up to the crowd as he was taken to the dressing rooms for further assessment.

Fensom, wearing the No.17 jersey, was a late addition to the Cowboys starting side for John Asiata.