Tarryn Aiken won’t play again this season in a “huge blow” for the Sydney Roosters in their bid to win back-to-back NRLW premierships.
The star playmaker was helped from the field in Thursday night’s win over Cronulla with a knee injury and scans have since confirmed she has ruptured her ACL.
Aiken will now be sidelined for at least nine months, ruling her out of playing for the Jillaroos in the Pacific Championships and potentially next year’s State of Origin series.
It’s a major setback for the Tricolours on the eve of the finals and Billy Slater admits it could give fellow heavyweights Brisbane the inside running to go all the way.
“That’s tragic news – she’s one of the stars of the competition,” the Storm legend said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“We were all hopeful that it was knee–on-knee contact and a bit of bone bruising, but given the fact that it looks like she has done it before the contact would indicate the ACL and that’s been confirmed, so that’s a huge blow.
“There’s still a lot of class in this team, but it probably leans towards the Broncos now.”
Aiken has been at her brilliant best this season, scoring five tries and setting up another 12 in just seven appearances for the Roosters.
However, the 26-year-old’s absence should open the door for another star to return.
“The positive for the Roosters is that Corban Baxter is coming back and returning from injury,” former NRLW player Ruan Sims said.
“I’d imagine she would slot into that six role and Jocelyn Kelleher will take over the dominant seven role.
“There is still a lot of class there, but you can’t deny that the loss of Tarryn Aiken in any team is massive, it’s a huge gap.”
John Strange’s team finished atop the ladder after 11 rounds with an undefeated record.
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