Wests Tigers star Adam Doueihi will go under the knife next week to repair multiple facial fractures, as Brisbane’s Brendan Piakura edges closer to a return from an extended concussion layoff.
Doueihi was rushed to hospital mid-game after his head collided with the knee of Cowboys forward Jason Taumalolo while he was attempting to make a tackle on Sunday.
Scans have confirmed the in-form playmaker has suffered two fractures to his eye socket and will require surgery, prematurely ending his season.
Doueihi’s surgery is scheduled for next week with specialists forced to wait for swelling to subside before operating on the nasty injury.
It comes as rookie half Latu Fainu also failed to finish Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys after he sustained a category two head knock.
Fainu is expected to be available to take on ladder-leaders Canberra on Saturday at GIO Stadium, where he is expected to partner Jarome Luai in the halves in place of Doueihi.
It’s understood boom rookie Heamasi Makasini is rated as an “outside chance” to make his highly anticipated NRL debut this weekend. It’s expected Makasini will be named in Benji Marshall’s extended squad on Tuesday with his selection likely to depend on the fitness of centre Starford To’a.
To’a missed Round 25 with a shoulder issue and is no certainty to take the field against the Raiders.
Coaching staff had earmarked Makasini, who impressed in NSW Cup on the weekend, for a debut in the final rounds of the regular season if the Tigers’ fell out of the finals race, which is now a given after Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys.
