Gold Coast have been dealt a massive blow ahead of the NRL season with star second-rower Beau Fermor rupturing his ACL at training.
The 24-year-old is set to miss the rest of the year after scans confirmed the injury.
The Dalby-born forward was one of the Titans' best players last year, crossing over 11 times in 23 games to be their leading try scorer.
The latest setback is the second time he has suffered a serious knee injury after rupturing an ACL in 2019 when he was on the cusp of making his NRL debut for Newcastle.
His form last year merited selection in Queensland's State of Origin extended squad where he thrived in the Maroons camp under the tutelage of coach Billy Slater and his assistant Cameron Smith.
Fermor told AAP at the Titans season launch how keen he was to make his Maroons debut this year and to play outside new Titans five-eighth Kieran Foran and take his game to a new level.
His partnership with Foran was on show in the 40-16 trial win over the Dolphins where he was in devastating form on the left edge.
Regarded as one of the most dedicated and talented young players in the game, the Titans are backing Fermor to bounce back from this latest cruel blow.
The Titans kick off their NRL season against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday and will need to bring a new player into their 17 to replace Fermor.
Klese Haas and Sam McIntyre are two options who could come in from the 22-man squad named.
McIntyre has more experience while 21-year-old Haas, the younger brother of Brisbane prop Payne Haas, shone in the two NRL games he played last year.
