The distinguished career of former Test and NSW Origin five-eighth Braith Anasta appears to be over after the Wests Tigers veteran opted to undergo surgery on his injured biceps.
The Tigers and Anasta aren't prepared to say definitely whether this is the end for the 32-year-old, even though he's all but confirmed this year to be his last in the NRL and the recovery time for such an injury is usually around six months.
Anasta will have his partially torn biceps operated on next week but the club said in a statement they wouldn't be able to give information on any return date until he has gone under the knife.
The club and Anasta are still holding out some hope he could return later in the season if there is a good result from the surgery.
Anasta - who is off contract for next year - met with the surgeon on Wednesday morning, hoping he might be able to play on through the pain for the rest of the season.
However that wasn't possible, meaning a potentially sombre end for a 15-season great of the game and one of the nice guys of the NRL.
Anasta suffered the injury against Penrith at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
He has played 288 matches for Canterbury, the Sydney Roosters and Tigers and won a premiership with the Bulldogs in 2004.
He played four matches for Australia in 2001 and featured on 10 occasions for the NSW Blues between 2002 and 2008.
Tigers coach Mick Potter had emphasised on several occasions this year how important his experience and calming influence had been on young playmakers Luke Brooks and Blake Austin.
For an already young football side, the Tigers have now been rocked by key injuries to James Tedesco (knee, season) and another veteran campaigner in Liam Fulton (concussion, indefinite).
Forward Adam Blair said if the South Sydney junior's career was over, it would be a sad way for such a fine player to go out.
"Of course. Braith's done a lot in rugby league. He's played for his country, he's won Origin and he's won grand finals," Blair said.
"To go out the way he did, if that was to be, it'd be really disappointing for him.
"I think just his guidance around the place, at training and on the field. It's going to be a massive loss. Our team's young as it is and to lose someone like Braith with the experience he has and what he's done before.
"But it's a chance for the young kids to step up and prepare themselves for their careers once he's gone.
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