League: Tate can come back from injury

Australian international and former New Zealand Warrior Brent Tate is looking at nine months on the sidelines. Photo / Getty Images

Australian team doctor Paul Annett is confident Brent Tate can fight back from his latest career-threatening knee injury.

The 28 year-old centre was left distraught and contemplating his playing future after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the first half of Australia's 16-12 Four Nations final defeat to New Zealand on Saturday.

Tate, who has signed for North Queensland for the next three years after a spell with the Warriors, was expected to consult leading orthopaedic surgeon Peter Meyers on Sunday before discussing his playing future with the Cowboys.

Despite advances in knee reconstruction techniques, Tate is looking at at least nine months on the sidelines which means the earliest he could get back on the field would be July or August next year.

A shattered Tate, who's already shown tremendous character and courage to come back from two previous knee reconstructions wept on the shoulder of Kangaroos trainer Brian Hider at half time and said: "I think it's all over".

The injury puts the Cowboys under pressure to retain Test centre Willie Tonga, rumoured to have asked to be released from the final two years of his contract to play for Parramatta.

"I had a look at his knee at half time and his cruciate was torn," said Dr Annett.

"I'm 99 per cent sure, but you can always be wrong.

"It felt like, it sounded like it.

"As they say, if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it's probably a duck."

Tate is staying in Brisbane with his brother-in-law and former Queensland and Australian prop Steve Prince until his decides what his next move will be.

One of the most popular players in the game, his teammates were upset for him when they saw his distressed state in the dressing sheds during the break.

"It was pretty upsetting to see that with Tatey," said prop David Shillington.

"He's had a bad run with injuries before this.

"It was heartbreaking for him and for the team.

"We tried to move on in the second half but it's hard when you see that."

Australian hooker Cameron Smith said he felt devastated for Tate when he saw the state he was in at halftime.

"He's the kind of guy you love playing alongside. No matter who he is playing for he always gives his heart and soul for that team," Smith said.

"He was looking for a fresh start up at the Cowboys next year.

"He's looking at his third knee reconstruction and he was devastated in the dressing room."

Former Manly, NSW and Australian star Nik Kosef had three knee reconstructions during his career and other athletes have won similar battles, but Tate is older now it may be tougher to undertake one more.

"There's players who've had multiple knee reconstructions and still continued to play," said Dr Annett.

"He's obviously very disappointed but he can come back.

"I think he's had both knees done, so it will be his second on the left knee.

"Some people have had three or four on one knee and kept playing."

In addition to Tate, Luke Lewis (ankle) Sam Thaiday (corked calf) and Gallen (corked shin) were among the wounded.

- AAP