Penrith will be without Peta Hiku for the rest of the NRL season, with the Kiwi Test representative to undergo a knee reconstruction.
Hiku sustained the injury in Sunday’s loss to Gold Coast, tearing both his anterior and medial cruciate ligament, and will undergo surgery in the next fortnight.
In a double blow for the Panthers – who have already lost centre Dean Whare to a season-ending knee injury – they will also be without forward James Fisher-Harris for up to eight weeks due to a fractured thumb.