Ropati's scans have confirmed his worst fears. ACL rupture - reconstruction required - season over!

Knee injury sidelines Ropati for season
NRL.com

AAPMon, Mar 28, 2011 - 3:44 PM

Warriors centre Jerome Ropati faces knee reconstruction surgery and has been ruled out for the rest of the NRL season.

The 26-year-old was left clutching his left knee after making a desperate tackle on Kiwis team-mate Jason Nightingale during Sunday's 25-12 loss to premiers St George Illawarra in Auckland.

Warriors team doctor John Mayhew said a scan on Monday confirmed Ropati had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

The Warriors are already reeling from the loss of giant winger Manu Vatuvei, who suffered medial ligament damage to his right knee in the season opening loss to Parramatta.

"Jerome has been reviewed by a surgeon and will be operated on in one to two weeks, once his knee settles down," Mayhew said.

"His recovery period will be about six months, ruling him out for the rest of the season."

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said everyone at the club felt for Ropati.

"It's devastating for Jerome. I just feel so sorry for him," he said. "Obviously it's a huge disappointment for all of us at the club."

Ropati, an 11-Test international, was making his 130th appearance for the club.

He had been in outstanding form, named the players' player of the day after his two-try performance in the first-round encounter with Parramatta.

Ropati becomes the fourth Warriors player in four years to be struck down by what are usually season-ending ACL injuries.

Fullback Wade McKinnon needed surgery after damaging his ACL in a trial against Newcastle in 2008. It was thought he wouldn't play at all that season but he returned for the final few NRL games.

Centre Brent Tate wasn't so fortunate, an ACL knee injury ending his 2009 campaign just three rounds into the season.

Promising utility Elijah Taylor was also sidelined long-term after injuring his knee in a training session just before the opening trial of the 2010 season.

He recovered in time to play the tail-end of the Junior Warriors' NYC season, captaining the side in the grand final win against South Sydney.