Penrith halfback Luke Walsh has been ruled out of NRL action for at least three weeks with confirmation on Saturday the playmaker has a grade two medial ligament strain to his right knee.

Walsh was named to play Melbourne at Penrith on Saturday night but he was never expected to play, with Travis Burns taking over the No.7 spot.

The Panthers were hopeful Walsh’s injury would only keep him out of the Storm game but the bad news was confirmed by the club prior to the Saturday night’s game.

Walsh suffered the injury in last Monday night’s loss to Newcastle.