The South Sydney Rabbitohs have confirmed a significant injury to Euan Aitken following their recent 50-20 victory over the Sydney Roosters.
Aitken sustained a fractured scapula, which will sideline him for the rest of the season.
Medical assessments suggest that Aitken, who is 31, may take around three to four months to recover.
This means he will not participate in the early stages of the 2027 pre-season, but he is expected to return before the trials commence in February.
Aitken joined the Rabbitohs at the conclusion of 2024 after his tenure with the Dolphins. He previously played for the St George Illawarra Dragons and the New Zealand Warriors.
He has been a vital asset for Souths, known for his dependable performance and defensive skills.
Despite his contributions, Aitken has only experienced one finals match in his career, which occurred during his rookie season with the Dragons, thus the injury means he will miss out on another finals appearance.
Over the 2026 season, Aitken made 18 appearances, scored six tries, recorded 534 tackles with a 95.9% efficiency, and accumulated 1,814 running metres.
Looking ahead, Aitken will focus on his rehabilitation with a contract secured with the Rabbitohs through to the end of the 2027 season.