Fiji Bati captain Wes Naiqama received a rude awakening when he woke from undergoing surgery recently.
Instead of an expected few weeks’ recovery the Newcastle Knights star will now miss the start of next season.
Naiqama underwent arthroscopic surgery, what was to have been a routine clean-up of his cartilage but doctors discovered that that the Tailevu rugger had micro-fractures in his knee cap.
"It's going to be between eight and 12 weeks until he can run again, which is a bit of a setback for him," Knights coach Brian Smith told the Newcastle Herald.
"If it finishes up being 12, he'll be racing the clock to play in our first comp game, to be honest." Smith now has to rummage through his squad for a likely replacement as he anticipates a trying next season – Knights eager to get back to the top of the NRL ladder.
Fiji National Rugby League chairman, Peni Musunamasi sympathized with the Bati skipper.
“He loves to play; I can imagine how bad he must be feeling right about now.”
Akuila Uate, who plays alongside Naiqama in the Knights outfit too has been rested and could miss most of next season because of a knee injury he sustained at the Rugby League World Cup.
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