Isaah Yeo has admitted he may not be able to captain Australia in the World Cup, given how delaying surgery on a ruptured pectoral muscle could push back his start to next season.
Both Penrith and the Kangaroos have been left counting the cost of the Panthers' brutal end to the season, with several stars injured in the preliminary-final loss to Newcastle.
Renowned for getting their stars on field for finals, Penrith proved on Sunday it takes a compound fracture of the leg to rule one out of a big game.
Nathan Cleary is set for surgeries on both of his feet, with his father Ivan revealing the Panthers superstar entered Sunday with a broken right foot.
After doing enough to get on the field against the Knights, Cleary suffered a compound fracture and dislocated ankle in a hip-drop tackle from Phoenix Crossland.
Cleary had always appeared a long-odds shot to play in the World Cup when Penrith first revealed a bone issue, but he is now likely in a battle just to start next season.
The Kangaroos have Tom Dearden and Mitch Moses as options to fill the No.7 jersey, while Sydney Roosters halfback Sam Walker could also be in line to debut.
Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards will also likely miss the World Cup after rupturing his PCL in his knee in the first half of the loss to Newcastle and playing through the pain.
The 30-year-old had been part of Australia's Ashes squad last year, and was set to retain his spot in the squad with Reece Walsh fighting a syndesmosis injury.
Blaize Talagi also had his night ended early by an Achilles rupture, meaning he too will miss Samoa's World Cup campaign and faces a long summer in rehabilitation.
Yeo, meanwhile, has required surgery on a ruptured pec since he suffered the injury two months ago.
He put back the operation to play in this finals series, and while he got through unscathed there is no certainty he will be right to turn out for Australia.
"I don't know if I'll be available yet, I'll have to talk to the club as well because it will affected the start of next season if I was to prolong it," Yeo said.
"I'm not sure. That's a conversation for probably later on next week with Ivan and the staff. But not sure yet."
Penrith's injury toll told late, as their attack faltered and they failed to score a point in the second half against 12-man Knights after Crossland was sent off.
More than 80 per cent of the second half was played in the Panthers' attacking end, but the minor premiers failed to break the line once and made seven errors.
"I can't really explain what happened in the second half," coach Cleary said.
"We were probably just falling apart a little with injuries."
