Key Canberra recruit Jamal Fogarty is set to miss at least two thirds of the NRL season with a serious knee injury.
The Raiders confirmed Fogarty injured his knee in a trial game against Manly.
The knee will be operated on, and the club doesn’t expect the halfback to return until Round 15 at the earliest.
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Fogarty played 41 games over three seasons with the Titans before inking a deal with the capital club over the off-season.
It’s a major blow for the Raiders, who have been looking for a new halfback since George Williams left the club in controversy in the middle of last year.
Williams had a falling out with coach Ricky Stuart and went home to England, as the Raiders fell down the NRL ladder and had a mightily disappointing 2021 campaign.
Only yesterday, Phil Gould told Nine’s Six Tackles with Gus podcast how important the Fogarty signing was for Canberra.
“Halfback has always been a touch point for them, after they lost George Williams,” Gould said.
“I do (like Fogarty), I really do. And I haven’t heard Ricky Stuart more excited about a halfback for some time.
“I spoke to him last week and (Stuart) was really impressed with (Fogarty). He said he’s a genuine No.7, he likes to get his hands on the ball, he backs himself, he’s got a good service game for the rest of the team, and that can bring the rest of them to light.”
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