Canterbury have suffered a major setback ahead of the NRL season after their star signing Leo Thompson was ruled out for ten weeks with a calf injury.
The powerful front-rower, who moved from Newcastle in a lucrative transfer over the summer, picked up the problem while with the Maori All Stars last week.
He was withdrawn late from the team selected to face the Indigenous All Stars, originally described as "calf tightness".
Upon returning to Australia, scans revealed the calf problem to be a grade three tear.
That diagnosis means Thompson will miss Canterbury's season opener in Las Vegas against St George Illawarra and much of the first two months of the competition.
The 25-year-old is expected to recover without the need for surgery.
With Thompson sidelined, options to slot into the middle include Sam Hughes, Josh Curran, Harry Hayes and Daniel Saluka-Fifita.
Thompson's injury adds to the club's early-season concerns, with playmaker Matt Burton also managing a hamstring issue.
Club scans on Burton after their trial win over Newcastle showed no tear, keeping alive the hope he will travel to the United States.
Canterbury will now reshuffle their forward rotation while monitoring recovery timelines for both players.