Canberra Raiders winger Edrick Lee has been ruled out for the season with a foot injury and will undergo surgery on Friday to repair ligament damage.
Lee suffered the injury in the Raiders' loss to the Titans on Sunday night, with specialists deciding surgery was the only way to repair the damage.
The recovery period means he will miss the rest of the 2014 NRL season.
It is a blow for the 21-year-old winger who has managed to score 15 tries in 19 first-grade games for Canberra.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said it's a devastating injury for Lee who has been in great form in the early rounds for the Raiders and has assured that Lee will get the best rehabilitation throughout his recovery.
"Edrick is a real strike weapon for us out wide and he's going to be sorely missed for the remainder of the year," Stuart said. "He is a young player on the rise and we'll make sure he gets the best rehabilitation after his surgery and we know he'll be back bigger and better for us next year."
Lee's injury has created an opportunity to former New Zealand Warriors winger Bill Tupou who will step up into first-grade for the first time in 2014.
"Bill Tupou gets an opportunity on the wing with Edrick out for the year and he's been in good form for the Mounties as have a number of players across our feeder and NYC teams," Stuart said.
Tupou will step out for his 66th first-grade game this Sunday afternoon when the Raiders head up to Sydney to take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs.