Melbourne Storm full-back Billy Slater is set to miss eight months of the season due to a shoulder injury.
The Australia number one missed the end of last season with the same injury, which will now force him to potentially miss the rest of this season.
Slater, 32, is set to take some time off before starting his rehabilitation.
Melbourne’s football director Frank Ponissi said: “While we are hugely disappointed to hear the extent of Billy’s injury, we are very pleased to hear the medical team expect him to make a full and successful recovery.”
