Newcastle skipper Kurt Gidley was forced from the field with a dislocated left shoulder just six minutes into Sunday’s NRL match against Cronulla.

The injury is the same one the NSW Origin representative suffered in last year’s finals series.

Knights medical staff were initially hopeful of strapping the shoulder and getting him back on the field, but there are now serious concerns as to whether Gidley will be sidelined for an extended period of time.