Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller will be sent for scans after suffering a suspected serious knee injury while playing in a Queensland Cup preliminary final in Cairns.
The 27-year-old stepped off his left leg in the 60th minute while going for a run and collapsed to the ground in a non-contact situation in Redcliffe's 17-16 golden-point win over Northern Pride.
There was immediate concern that Fuller may have suffered an ACL injury as he was assisted from the field by a trainer. If scans confirm the worst, he could be out of action until June.
The potential injury looms as a huge blow to the pocket rocket and for incoming coach Kristian Woolf, who will take over from Wayne Bennett in 2025.
Fuller played 11 games for the Dolphins this year, making 67 tackles, eight line-breaks and scoring four tries.
He started the season on a train-and-trial deal while playing for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the state league, but such was his form that the Dolphins elevated Fuller to the NRL squad and extended him until the end of the 2026 season.
Fuller proved a wonderful replacement for Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow when he was injured or on State of Origin duty.
Bennett brought Fuller back into the side and switched Tabuai-Fidow to fullback for the final two round games. The coach said he did so because the side needed Fuller's energy from the back-field, and he had to be in the team somewhere.
