TITAN PETE
11-01-10, 10:00 PM
Brisbane centre Justin Hodges is facing up to six months on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles tendon during NRL pre-season training.
Hodges will undergo surgery on Tuesday night to repair the damage, which was suffered when he stepped in a small hole while taking part in a conditioning drill at the University of Queensland on Saturday morning.
The Test star attempted to get up after his initial fall, but was in obvious agony with Broncos coach Ivan Henjak admitting his 27-year-old was visibly upset as he realised the seriousness of the injury.
Medical staff won't know the full extent of the damage until after the surgery is completed, but it appears Hodges would be lucky to get back on the park before the second half of the season.
That would also leave him struggling to play any part in Queensland's State of Origin campaign, with the final game to be played in Sydney on July 7.
"It's not real flash for us, but the positive is that it's happened in the pre-season and we've got plenty of time to look to all the options," Henjak told AAP.
"We've got three trials to work things out."
The injury is likely to see Israel Folau move back to right centre, his preferred position, with Steve Michael favoured to assume the left centre berth.
Hodges will undergo surgery on Tuesday night to repair the damage, which was suffered when he stepped in a small hole while taking part in a conditioning drill at the University of Queensland on Saturday morning.
The Test star attempted to get up after his initial fall, but was in obvious agony with Broncos coach Ivan Henjak admitting his 27-year-old was visibly upset as he realised the seriousness of the injury.
Medical staff won't know the full extent of the damage until after the surgery is completed, but it appears Hodges would be lucky to get back on the park before the second half of the season.
That would also leave him struggling to play any part in Queensland's State of Origin campaign, with the final game to be played in Sydney on July 7.
"It's not real flash for us, but the positive is that it's happened in the pre-season and we've got plenty of time to look to all the options," Henjak told AAP.
"We've got three trials to work things out."
The injury is likely to see Israel Folau move back to right centre, his preferred position, with Steve Michael favoured to assume the left centre berth.