The Cronulla Sharks have confirmed the worst for skipper Cameron McInnes, with scans revealing the inspirational forward has suffered a ruptured ACL.
The injury occurred during the early stages of the Sharks’ big win over the Titans, when McInnes went down in a non-contact incident that immediately raised concern among teammates and coaching staff.
He left the field before halftime and did not return, with vision later showing the Sharks captain emotional on the sideline as the seriousness of the setback began to sink in.
The club has since announced that McInnes will require season-ending surgery, ruling him out of the remainder of the 2025 campaign.
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With a nine-month recovery being fairly standard for ACL ruptures, it will also likely rule McInnes out for the opening months of the 2026 season, depending on his recovery.
It is a devastating blow for the Sharks, who were beginning to find form heading into the business end of the season, and now face the challenge of pushing for finals football without their most influential leader.
McInnes has been the heartbeat of the side, renowned for his relentless defence, tireless work ethic, and ability to inspire those around him in tough moments.
His absence leaves a huge void in the middle of the field, with coach Craig Fitzgibbon now tasked with reshuffling his forward rotation to cover not just McInnes’ workload, but also the intangible qualities he brings each week.
The injury comes on top of an already difficult period for Cronulla, with season-ending setbacks to outside backs Jesse Ramien and Kayal Iro, further testing the squad’s depth as the run to the finals intensifies.
The forward pack is also without star forward Britton Nikora for the rest of the regular season, having been suspended for a shoulder charge tackle in Round 23.
While the Sharks showed plenty of attacking flair in their thumping win over the Titans, the celebrations were overshadowed by the confirmation that their captain’s season is over.
For now, the Sharks’ focus will shift to rallying around their skipper while finding a way to keep their premiership hopes alive without him on the park.