Newcastle co-captain Hannah Southwell's NRLW season is over and World Cup dream dashed after scans confirmed the extent of the knee injury suffered in Sunday's win over Brisbane.
Southwell came off after hurting her right knee in the 32-14 round one win over the Broncos, with scans confirming she suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
The 23-year-old will now undergo surgery, ruling her out of the remainder of the season.
The injury also means the lock will miss Australia's World Cup campaign in England in October and November.
It's a blow for the big-spending Knights, with Southwell being one of their key recruits after being lured from the Sydney Roosters where she won the premiership earlier this year in the rescheduled 2021 season.
A former rugby sevens international who also was once called up to a Matildas training camp in football, Southwell has made two appearances for the Jillaroos after debuting in 2018.
Despite playing on for 20 minutes after suffering the injury, Southwell eventually succumbed in a match where teenage sister Jess shone on her NRLW debut at halfback.
Southwell's injury has forced the only change to the Knights' line-up for their round two clash against Gold Coast at CBUS Super Stadium on Sunday.
Simone Karpani will come into the 17 to replace the NSW State of Origin representative after impressing off the interchange bench against the Broncos, with Makenzie Weale coming onto the bench for what will be her NRLW debut.
