Bustling Melbourne Storm winger Sisa Waqa will miss the first eight rounds of the NRL season after cutting his hand on broken glass.
The premiership winger and Fijian international cut tendons in his hand last Saturday following the Storm’s victory over Leeds in the World Club Challenge in the UK.
Waqa had scans upon his arrival back to Melbourne which revealed surgery was required.
The Storm open their NRL title defence against St George Illawarra on Sunday week at AAMI Park.
Fellow winger Matt Duffie is also unlikely to play against the Dragons due to a hamstring injury while centre Maurice Blair has a fractured sinus.
Hard-running forward Kevin Proctor is also likely to miss the first month of the season with a knee complaint.