Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller will miss the start of next year's NRL season after scans confirmed he had sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the Queensland Cup.
Fuller suffered the long-term knee injury while playing for Redcliffe in the 17-16 win over Northern Pride in the preliminary final clash in Cairns on Saturday.
The 27-year-old, signed until the end of 2026, had scans on Monday that confirmed the devastating news. Fuller is set for at least nine months on the sidelines, but is expected back mid-season in 2025.
"Trai is a valuable member of our club and our squad and he will be looked after," Dolphins CEO Terry Reader told AAP.
"We will get him back on the field as fast as medically possible."
Fuller has been one of the breakout performers in the NRL this year, playing 11 games and making 67 tackle busts, eight line-breaks and scoring four tries.
The pocket rocket was a reliable replacement for Queensland star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and such was his form Tabuai-Fidow switched to centre late in the season to accommodate him.
As an emerging talent who just needed an opportunity in the big time, Fuller is a prime example of why the NRL expanded the competition.
Fuller has played 92 games for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup since 2018 and scored 56 tries, along with being the competition's player of the year in 2023.
"I think Trai is just a great example of coming through the pathways," Reader said.
"He has been in our system since before we got the NRL licence, and after being on a train-and-trial (deal) has shown what he could do in the NRL since he got his opportunity.
"Trai secured a two-year top-30 deal this season and no one has worked harder. He has fought hard to get his opportunity, and his performances since he has come in have been fantastic."
Fuller is also the ultimate club man. Despite the Dolphins not figuring in the finals, he was keen to get back to Redcliffe to help the Ben Te'o-coached side get into the grand final.
He played a key role before being injured in securing the win.
"Trai couldn't wait to get back and play in that grand final qualifier and opened the scoring with a wonderful try to get them on the board," Reader said.
"He also went into dummy-half and put a great ball over for Val Te Whare to run 70 metres and score.
"It shows how much the club means to him, whether it be with the NRL side or in the Queensland Cup."
The Dolphins' two affiliate clubs Redliffe and Norths Devils play each other in the Queensland Cup grand final on Sunday at Kayo Stadium, with a suite of NRL and development-list players in both squads.
