LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The St George Illawarra Dragons are facing a significant setback ahead of the NSW Cup Grand Final next week, as rookie forward Jacob Halangahu has been ruled out of the game.
The Dragons are set to face either the Parramatta Eels or the New Zealand Warriors, but they will do so without Halangahu, who had to be rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery, as reported by The Daily Telegraph.
Halangahu experienced stomach pains and subsequently underwent an appendectomy. Following the surgery, he is expected to avoid any physical activity for a brief period but will be prepared for pre-season training.
Having made his NRL debut earlier this year, the Under-19s NSW Blues representative played five matches in the top grade. His performance during these games caught the attention of coach Shane Flanagan, making him a strong candidate for an interchange bench position in next year's opening match against the Bulldogs in Las Vegas.