The Brisbane Broncos have been hit by the news Tesi Niu could be on the sidelines for up to four months after suffering a hamstring injury in the defeat against Penrith.
The Bromcos are priced at 100/1to win the NRL grand final this season but could now have to do without Niu for a large part of it.
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Niu picked up the injury 34 minutes in to the loss against the Panthers and the club have now confirmed he has suffered a grade three hamstring strain.
The player will now be sent to see a specialist, who will determine the best cause of action to take.
Best case scenario will be a 10-week return if no surgery is required. However if he does need to undergo the knife then he could be looking at up to four months on the sidelines.
“Tesi will see the specialist later this week to determine if he will require any surgery, and we will move forward from there,"
Broncos head of performance Dave Ballard said in a club statement.
“We are looking at a recovery period of at least 10 weeks without an operation, and up to four months if surgery is required.
“Tesi is second-to-none in terms of his commitment to preparation and rehab, and we will provide him all the support he needs as he works his way back to full fitness.”
With Niu set for a spell on the sidelines Broncos coach Kevin Walters will turn to Selwyn Cobbo to take over at fullback.
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