The Bulldogs have suffered a huge blow with aggressive forward Jack Hetherington ruled out for the season with a shoulder injury.
Hetherington suffered the injury early in last night’s last-gasp lost to Manly at Brookvale and officials were hoping it was just a minor tear.
But scans this morning have indicated that Hetherington suffered major damage to the shoulder and will need a full reconstruction.
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He will undergo surgery later this week but the recovery period from a shoulder reco is at least nine months, ending his season after just three weeks.
Hetherington’s take-no-prisoners style gets him into trouble at times but he is a real impact forward whose big hits and ability to break the line make him a key figure in the Dogs’ pack.
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News of his injury comes less than an hour after the Eels lost talented forward Ray Stone for the year with a knee injury.
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