The North Queensland Cowboys traveled to Sydney for a match against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on Friday night, leaving with a win but also facing a significant setback.
Star player Jeremiah Nanai, who had just returned from shoulder reconstruction, suffered a similar injury during the second half.
Last year, Nanai experienced a severe shoulder injury while playing for Samoa in the Pacific Championships, which kept him out of the final against New Zealand after undergoing surgery.
After a successful comeback as a substitute against Cronulla last week, he was elevated to the starting lineup, aiming to regain the form he once showcased at the onset of his career.
Cowboys head coach Todd Payten confirmed that Nanai's current injury is to the same shoulder as before and noted that scans would be conducted to assess the extent of the damage.
"It's the same shoulder, he's gonna get a scan," Payten admitted.
"Yeah, really disappointed for him because he worked super hard. We'll see how it goes, but yep, it's not great."
The Samoan international has earned four caps for his country and has worn the QLD Maroons jersey on eight occasions since entering the NRL in 2021.
Nanai made a striking impact early in his career, netting 17 tries in just 23 games from the second-row position during his second season, establishing himself as one of the premier try-scoring forwards in the league.