Isaah Yeo's pain could be another Western Rams' product's gain.
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Yeo had little luck early in the NRL season and things went from bad to worse on the weekend when he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
It was reported on Monday the Dubbo product would require surgery after dislocating his shoulder in Saturday's loss to the Canberra Raiders at Wagga.
It is a cruel blow for the former Panthers captain, who suffered one shoulder injury and two head knocks early on in the 2019 campaign.
While Yeo will now start looking forward to 2020, the door has been opened for Parkes junior Billy Burns.
Burns has been in tremendous form for Penrith's Canterbury Cup side and has scored five tries in his past two games.
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Burns is also a second-rower and was given a Panthers development contract in pre-season, meaning he will be eligible for an NRL debut this year.
Former Dubbo CYMS star Yeo praised Burns when speaking to the Daily Liberal earlier this season, stating he felt an NRL debut wasn't too far away for the 20-year-old.
Veteran Panthers prop Tim Grant spoke to the media on Monday and said the club is eager to see someone take on a leading roll in the forward pack after Viliame Kikau joined Yeo on the sidelines on the weekend.
"Like any team in the NRL, if you get an injury, someone's got to step up. And who knows? We might unearth the next big thing," Grant said on Monday.
"We've just got to bond together and get the job done."
Burns' try-scoring feats have him firmly in the mix while the more experienced James Fisher-Harris, Hame Sele, Tyrell Fuimaono and Frank Winterstein are the front-runners for second-row spots.
The Panthers needs to quickly regroup and start to find top form as they currently sit equal bottom of the NRL ladder with just two wins to their name.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
