Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, the captain of the Gold Coast, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear against Canterbury on Saturday, and scans have revealed that he will miss the remainder of the season.
Following the team’s 32-0 loss, the Titans stated that the 24-year-old representative prop had scans in Sydney on Saturday night. A club doctor’s additional examination on Sunday morning confirmed the worst-case scenario.
After a dismal start to the season, which included a 28-4 loss to St George Illawarra, where Fa’asuamaleaui ran for 182 metres and made 28 tackles in a remarkable performance in a badly beaten team, the injury has left the Titans in a precarious predicament.
he greatest player on the team, Fa’asuamaleaui, had his right knee twisted while carrying the football in the 66th minute against Belmore. He received assistance leaving the field.
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With second-rower David Fifita (torn pectoral) and fullback Jayden Campbell (patella) still to miss time in the NRL, the Titans have already seen a season beset by injuries.
Campbell could be eligible for the round four NRL match at Robina on Saturday against the Dolphins after making his Queensland Cup comeback on Saturday with the Tweed Heads.
The Titans will get offensive punch from Campbell and Fifita, but Fa’asuamaleaui—the team’s spiritual leader—has carried the group for far too long.
Coach Des Hasler is left with a huge gap in what has already been a very disappointing start to the season, and his loss is a devastating blow to the Titans’ aspirations of making the playoffs.
The Titans captain has played 12 straight Origin matches, in which the Maroons have won three series, thus the injury is also a major setback for the Maroons ahead of this year’s State of Origin series.
His loss follows the season-ending ACL injury that Dolphins forward Tom Gilbert suffered in Queensland.
