Josh Hodgson is set to miss a large portion of the 2018 NRL season due to an ACL injury that requires surgery.
The England hooker was taken from the field less than 20 minutes into England's dramatic World Cup semi-final win over Tonga on Saturday in Auckland.
The club only recently announced the Test rake had re-signed at the nation's capital for a further four seasons. With Adam Clydsdale retiring and Erin Clark departing the club, PNG hooker Kurt Baptiste and new recruit Craig Garvey will be expected to shoulder much of the load at No.9 at Canberra for roughly the first four months of the 2018 season.
"Initial scans by England medical staff indicate an anterior cruciate ligament injury which requires surgery," Canberra said in a statement.
"Hodgson will return to Australia where he will be further assessed by medical staff. At this stage a time frame on his possible return is unknown."