Luke Douglas (New Signing for 2012) - 2011 Discussion
Cronulla prop Luke Douglas ends 133-game streak, will miss six weeks with medial ligament strain
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Another of the NRL's ironmen has been struck down, with Cronulla prop Luke Douglas set to miss six weeks of football with a medial ligament strain.
Douglas, who will join Gold Coast Titans from 2012, had played 133 games unbroken since his debut for the Sharks in round two 2006.
Already in 2010 Manly's Michael Robertson had a 139-game streak ended by a knee injury, while Douglas's Sharks teammate John Morris's run of 150 straight matches was also stopped by a knee complaint.
The hat-trick of injuries means Canterbury-Bankstown captain Andrew Ryan has lost most of his rivals for the current longest unbroken streak in the NRL.
According to rugby league statistician David Middleton, since 2004 Ryan has only missed matches through State of Origin commitments - a run that has seen him line up for the Bulldogs for 161 matches in a row.
Douglas, who hopes to fast-track his recovery and be back in a month, admitted the injury was shattering.
"I've been lucky, I've had a pretty good run and unfortunately (the streak) comes to an end," Douglas told AAP.
"To tell you the truth I haven't had too many injuries, and even the injuries I have had over the years I've been able to get on the paddock.
"So I didn't really know what to go by or how to compare it to anything else, but I heard a little crack, so I knew something wasn't good.
"It's shattering news ... especially when we're down on a few troops and we need all hands on deck.
"I'll just be doing everything I can to make it heal as quick as it can."
Douglas's teammate Josh Cordoba (hamstring) will only miss Friday's home game against Brisbane Broncos.
Meanwhile, Newcastle Knights received some good news with halfback Jarrod Mullen learning that he had suffered only a partial tear of his pectoral muscle.
Mullen suffered the injury while tackling Parramatta halfback Jeff Robson in Saturday night's 8-6 win over the Eels.
It will rule him out for 6-8 weeks, but the news was welcomed by coach Rick Stone after the club had initially feared Mullen would miss the rest of the season.
Manly are sweating on scans to reveal the damage sustained by props George Rose (calf), Jason King (ankle) and Brent Kite (back) in Friday night's sparkling triumph over Brisbane.
St George Illawarra also face a nervous wait, with centre Matt Cooper and winger Brett Morris both expected to learn the full extent of injuries picked up in Sunday's victory over Wests Tigers.
Scans on Monday confirmed Morris had suffered a low-grade hamstring strain, putting him in doubt for New South Wales selection ahead of State of Origin II, while the in-form Cooper had scans on his hand and cheekbone.
A meeting with surgeons on Tuesday will determine Cooper's fate.
From that same game Tigers winger Matt Utai broke his left arm and will miss up two six weeks, while Sydney Roosters winger Steve Naughton will be sidelined for six weeks after breaking his collarbone in Saturday night's loss to North Queensland Cowboys.
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