Cronulla have lost co-captain Wade Graham to a knee injury early in their qualifying final clash with the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
Graham was assisted from the field 13 minutes into the game and went straight up the tunnel after he fumbled a Cooper Cronk grubber and collided with Isaac Liu in the lead up to a Roosters try.
The injury sparked fears of him sustaining anterior cruciate ligament damage, with Sharks medical staff telling the Nine Network there were characteristics of the injury.
Graham had been battling an injury in the same strapped right knee, and missed a game with medial damage last month.
It comes after a frustrating regular season for the Sharks second-rower, who has missed seven matches through hamstring, groin, concussion, knee and cheekbone issues as well as a suspension.
Saturday’s injury came after Graham had earlier helped set up the Sharks’ first try, when he flicked a ball on their left edge to Ricky Leutele before Sosaia Feki dived over.
It also sparked memories of the Sharks’ qualifying-final loss to Canberra in 2016, where Graham was also forced from the field early with a concussion.