Wednesday 21 September 2016 16:13, UK
Warrington's Grand Final hopes have suffered a major blow with the loss of forward Ben Currie due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Currie sustained the knee injury scoring his side's fifth try in last Friday's Super 8s match against Wigan and is likely to be sidelined for between six and nine months.
The injury comes on the eve of the Wolves' biggest game of the season, Friday's trip to Hull which will determine the destination of the League Leaders' Shield, and is also a setback for England as the 22-year-old second rower was set to win his first cap later this year.
"Our worst fears have come to fruition," Warrington coach Tony Smith said on Wednesday.
"He's torn his ACL off the bone. He's on his way to London as we speak for repair. I believe that will involve a graft back onto the bone.
"The minimum recovery would be six months but I reckon he will be close to nine months. It's a big blow for the young man.
"He was emotional when we got the results of the scans. He's very passionate and professional about his sport so it hurt him.
"He's sensible as well and he understands that for those sort of injuries it's not career-ending any more. Once upon a time it would be.
"It's come at a time when he's playing some big games for his club and he's also been pushing for that international jersey.
"But he's getting on with things and understands he'll come back to have a fantastic career with an opportunity of all those things he's missing out on now."
Currie later wrote on Twitter: "The news is out about my injury, Devastated that it's happened and to miss the end of the season!! I will be back tho!"
The Wolves are also without experienced second-rower Ben Westwood for the remainder of the season due to the shoulder injury sustained in Warrington's Challenge Cup final defeat.
With Westwood out, an opportunity has opened up for academy product Sam Wilde, who is set to play the biggest game of his career against Hull just two weeks after celebrating his 21st birthday.
"Sammy's excited," Smith said. "He will get a good shot at it. We'll have a young bench for sure."
The Wolves, who missed a chance to wrap up the League Leaders' Shield with a game to spare when they lost to Wigan, are also without their influential half-back Kurt Gidley as they prepare for their trip to Hull this Friday.
Gidley, who suffered a fractured cheekbone at Wembley, picked up a slight hamstring strain in the 35-28 defeat to Wigan which will keep him out for at least a week.
Smith will switch the versatile Stefan Ratchford to half-back alongside Dec Patton, with Matty Russell moving to full-back, and that paves the way for recalls for wingers Kevin Penny and former Hull favourite Tom Lineham as they look to secure a home semi-final.
"It's not ideal," said Smith, "It's an opportunity for someone else to come in. Super League tests the depth and strength of your club."
