NSW State of Origin second-rower Tariq Sims will miss the start of St George Illawarra's pre-season after he and the Dragons opted to take a long-term approach with his knee injury.
Sims who won the Dragons' player of the year medal on Wednesday night, tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee in their NRL semi-final loss to South Sydney last month.
Usually only a two-week injury when the meniscus is removed in surgery, Sims decided on a slower approach that is unlikely to see him return to training until the new year but should help the 28-year-old's fitness in the longer term.
"The surgeon went in and stapled down the meniscus (rather than removing it)," Dragons high performance boss Nathan Pickworth said on the club's website.
"The difference with that is it will be a bit of a slower rehab in the earlier stages so we're looking at a three-four month mark of him getting back to training and playing. It's a bit slower than your usual meniscectomy.
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"The benefits we have done is in the back end of Tariq's career he won't be at risk of getting early onset arthritis. He'll be able to run normally and do all the things he needs to do like that."
The Dragons have otherwise received good news on the injury front after they endured a tough end to the season, in contrast to going a record 12 rounds without changing their starting side.
Lock Jack de Belin won't require surgery on his injured ankle and will likely be fit to start pre-season training at the same time as the rest of the group on November 19.
Captain Gareth Widdop will have a longer break after surgery on his dislocated shoulder, but the Saints are confident he'll be fit for the start of next season.
Prop Paul Vaughan should also begin running on return from ankle and foot injuries at around the same time as the start of pre-season.
