Matt Cooper's NRL career may be over, with St George Illawarra confirming the veteran centre would undergo season-ending surgery on a torn pectoral muscle.
Cooper suffered the injury during the second half of Monday night's 22-18 golden point win over South Sydney, in what was his return match following a long layoff with a foot injury.
Dragons officials indicated Cooper faced a four-month rehabilitation following surgery.
Off contract at the end of the season, Cooper has yet to make a decision on whether he will play on into a 15th NRL season.
But given his injury interrupted season and prospect of a long road to recovery, it is believed the former Test and NSW Origin player will be hanging up the boots.
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The 34-year-old is the last remaining member of the Dragons' `Super Six' still with the club, a talented group of representative stars which also included Trent Barrett, Mark Gasnier, Jason Ryles, Luke Bailey and Shaun Timmins who formed the core of St George Illawarra in the early years of the merger.
Cooper suffered the injury after landing heavily on his shoulder when he came back to earth following an acrobatic leap for a bomb.
He attempted to play on but was soon replaced and immediately headed to the dressing room.
He has been replaced in the starting line-up by Daniel Vidot.
