NRL: Steve Rapira out for the season

Steve Rapira. Photo / Getty Images

Warriors prop and second rower Steve Rapira is out for the season after he ruptured the ACL in his right knee last weekend.

Rapira will have surgery after suffering the injury while playing for Auckland Vulcans in their New South Wales Cup match against the Mounties.

It's another cruel blow for the younger of the club's Rapira brothers.

He was in the playing squad for each of the Warriors' first three matches of the NRL season but lasted only four minutes of the third-round clash against the Cronulla Sharks on March 24 before being forced off with an ugly ear wound.

After recovering from plastic surgery to repair the damage, Rapira was making his return in the New South Wales Cup last Saturday.

He joins front rower Sione Lousi who had his season ended by an ACL injury in the first trial of the season against Gold Coast in February.

Warriors utility Sio Siua Taukeiaho was also injured playing for the Vulcans. He'll be out for six to eight weeks after a fracture to his right lower fibula.

"No question we're having our share of injuries," said Warriors head coach Matthew Elliott.

"All of us feel for Steve as we do for Sione. It's a tough game we're involved in but it's really disappointing for all concerned when players have their seasons ended like this.

"We've got a lot of players on the injury list. It's testing our depth but it's also giving players more exposure at NRL level."

- nzherald.co.nz