DANE Gagai is the latest player to join the unavailable list for the Newcastle Knights, facing up to a month on the sidelines with a fractured cheek.
The Queensland Origin centre suffered the injury during the Knights' 39-2 loss to Parramatta in Newcastle on Sunday and will now miss the upcoming clash with second-placed Melbourne Storm.
Gagai finished the game, but scans later revealed the extent of the damage.
The Knights provided an update on Tuesday afternoon.
"He [Gagai] got a clip on the cheek and he's got a little fracture out of that hit that he had," Knights head of medical Craig Catterick told club media.
"He'll be seen by a facial auxiliary guy at the end of this week and he'll probably be out for about three or four weeks."
Recently re-signned Mat Croker (jaw), Bailey Hodgson (elbow), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (knee), Dom Young (knee), Jirah Momoisea (elbow) and Jayden Brailey (Achilles) were already in Newcastle's casualty ward.
Gagai and Hymel Hunt (cheek), returning via NSW Cup, are now the latest members.
Hunt's case was more serious.
"He has more of a significant injury. He got a really good hit across the head and he's got a couple of bones on the left side of his face that are fractured," Catterick said.
"He sees a surgeon on Friday, will probably have surgery next Monday or Tuesday and looking at about six weeks out. He has a depressed fracture on the cheek bone."
There were also concerns about Brodie Jones (elbow) out of the weekend.
Jack Johns (shoulder) has yet to take the field this year.
Mitchell Barnett (suspended) and Anthony Milford (contract) remain out of the mix for selection at the moment.
Round eight of the NRL sees Newcastle host Melbourne at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday before the Knights visit the Cowboys on May 7, meet the Bulldogs in Brisbane on May 13 as part of Magic Round, tackle the Broncos at home on May 19 and encounter the Warriors at Redcliffe on May 28.
"We're hoping Jirah [Momoisea] will come back around round nine [Cowboys], he's training well," Catterick said.
"Fitzy [Fitzgibbon] has really gone up one or two gears now. We're hoping he's about two weeks away."
Catterick also said Croker is expected back "around round 10 (Bulldogs)" while Young is "about three weeks away".
Barnett is eligible again in round 10 while Milford can debut for the Knights in round 11 (Broncos).
