https://www.nrl.com/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/729/Default.aspx
The playing future of talented young Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall hangs in the balance after he dislocated his right shoulder during his side's 32-12 NRL loss to an unbeaten North Queensland.
Marshall will miss up to eight weeks, including playing five-eighth for New Zealand in the May 5 Anzac Test in Brisbane.
It is the latest in a string of shoulder problems, raising the spectre of a premature end to his bright career.
Marshall missed New Zealand's historic Tri Nations series win over Australia in Great Britain last year to have his left shoulder surgically reconstructed.
That was already his third such operation in four years and he still is only 21 years old, while other injuries include his recent fractured cheek bone.
Fortunately Marshall's right shoulder went back in again this time after popping out from the force of an attempted tackle on powerhouse Cowboys prop Carl Webb in the closing minutes of Friday night's game, sparing him further surgery.
The young pivot left the field immediately, looking downcast and he broke down in tears on reaching the Tigers' dressing room, realising he faced another extended period on the sidelines less than two weeks after returning from his cheek injury.
Marshall is set to have tests on his shoulder but at best will not be back on the field for at least six weeks and possibly not for another two months.
By then the defending NRL premiers could be well behind the eight ball.
The Tigers appear to rely on their dazzling five-eighth as much as, if not more than, Newcastle depend on champion halfback Andrew Johns to get them over the line.
Their winning record without him is poor and, despite coach Tim Sheens' efforts to play down his loss, it's a savage blow for the Tigers whose only two wins from five games have been when Marshall played.
"I really feel for the kid," Sheens said.
"It's part of footy. Our medical staff will take care of it (Marshall's shoulder). I can't sit here and cry about it and neither can he, he knows that.
"I not trying to be cold about it, I'm just saying don't ask us to stop and cry about it because we've got a season in front of us and we've got to get on with."
Sheens also kept a lid on his feelings regarding referee Steve Clark's performance with the whistle after the Tigers came out on the wrong side of a heavy 14-8 penalty count.
Sheens said he would take his grievances with Clark to higher officials in a bid to "thrash out" problems the side seemed to have with the referee.
"Our discipline and our penalty count with the referee is obviously an issue for us," Sheens said.
"I've got an issue with him (Clark) ... against Canterbury it was the same thing so we're going to thrash it out in the right channels which I will be doing."
Must be hard for the poor kid. All our top players at the mo are so injury prone
and the fact he cant play for the kiwis again!!