Leeds Rhinos forward Jamie Jones-Buchanan has been ruled out for six to nine months after rupturing a quad tendon in last Friday’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup semi-final win over St Helens.
The 34-year-old suffered the injury in the second half of the Rhinos’ 24-14 victory at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and was helped from the field on a stretcher.
Brian McDermott ruled Jones-Buchanan out of the final at Wembley on August 29 and the back-rower now faces a race against time to be fit for the start of next season.
Jones-Buchanan, who came through the Rhinos academy before making his debut in 1999, had only just returned after a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.
Injuries have restricted Jones-Buchanan to just 11 appearances in 2015, while he featured only 14 times last year.
Leeds head coach McDermott said: “This is desperately disappointing news for Jamie, and everyone is fully behind him after this setback.
“He is in the best possible hands with our medical team and I have no doubt, given the obstacles he has already overcome in his career, that he will come more determined than ever to perform to his best for the team next season.”
State of Mind would like to wish Jamie a speedy recovery