North Queensland Cowboys second-rower Heilum Luki has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury which will rule him out of the entire 2025 season.
The 23-year-old sustained the injury at pre-season training on Saturday morning.
The session was one of the team's last before the club takes a break over the Christmas period.
Heilum Luki in action for the Cowboys. Getty
In a club statement released on Saturday, the Cowboys confirmed that Luki would undergo surgery in the coming weeks.
As a result, he will play no part in the Cowboys 2025 campaign.
Since making his NRL debut for the Cowboys in 2021, Luki's 57-game career has been plagued by injuries that have triggered extended stints on the sideline.
He previously sat out the remainder of the 2022 season with another ACL injury.
Luki featured in a career-high 19 first-grade games for the Cowboys last season, scoring five tries.
Jason Taumalolo is in doubt for the start of the 2025 NRL season. Getty
The forward now finds himself in a particular position — he is out of contract at the end of the 2025 season.
The club has endured a horror run of injuries with fullback Tom Chester also expected to be ruled out of the upcoming season after suffering an ACL injury at training last week.
Jason Taumalolo will also be sidelined for the foreseeable future after undergoing surgery earlier this month to repair a midfoot injury that he suffered playing for Tonga in the Pacific Championships.
Because of his international commitments, Taumalolo was not scheduled to return to training until January, when club medical staff will be able to put a timeline on his recovery.
As the usual return timeframe after undergoing Lisfranc surgery is between three and four months, the veteran lock could miss the NRL season opener.
Luki will most likely be replaced in the Cowboys' starting side by recruit John Bateman.
North Queensland landed the English back-rower on a two-year deal following his release from the West Tigers on Wednesday.
