Newcastle Knights five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe is likely to be sidelined for only a few weeks due to a PCL injury, despite worries regarding potential long-term ACL damage.
In the first quarter of the Knights' season opener in Las Vegas, Sharpe was impressive, appearing in multiple positions and posing a significant threat in attack.
However, when he sustained the injury, there were immediate concerns that it could be a serious ACL issue.
He managed to reset on the defensive line after receiving clearance from club physiotherapists.
Yet, when the Cowboys' edge backrowers targeted him, it became clear he was in distress, leading to his removal from the game.
Despite the initial alarm, Knights officials remain optimistic that the situation isn't too severe, as Sharpe addressed the injury after the match.
"It's obviously frustrating personally, a little niggle in the knee, but I'm obviously pumped for the team," Sharpe stated post-game.
"It just wasn't right. Fingers crossed everything's all good, I'll get home and get some scans. I was just kind of side-shuffling and went down. Pain-wise is all good. I've got no pain … (but) actually using it is a bit restrictive."
'NRL Physio' suggests that this appears to be a classic PCL injury, potentially keeping Sharpe out for just 2-6 weeks.
However, the exact details will only become clear once Sharpe receives the results from his scans to assess the injury's severity.