New Zealand Warriors forward Jackson Ford suffered an injury during the team's recent victory over the North Queensland Cowboys on Sunday afternoon.
Before the public voting closed after round 12, Ford was positioned second in the Dally M award race, but his game took a turn when he was substituted off in the 20th minute due to a pectoral injury.
Ford's arm was extended to the side, leading to an awkward contact that caused the acute injury.
Having established himself as one of the top props this season, Ford met with surgeons on Tuesday to assess how long his recovery might take.
Initial reports estimating a 10 to 12-week absence have now been validated by the club, which has announced that Tanner Stowers-Smith will be stepping in as a starter in Ford's position.
If Ford can recover in the anticipated 10 weeks, he would be ready to participate in the imminent clash with the Newcastle Knights in round 26, just two weeks before the finals.
The Warriors' concluding match before the finals will be against the Manly Sea Eagles in round 27.
In a less favorable scenario, Ford may only be fit for the first round of the finals without any prior match experience.
This season, Ford was enjoying a personal best, averaging 161 running meters and making 41 tackles per game with 93.2% efficiency, including 10 offloads and four tries over 14 appearances for the club in 2026.