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SYDNEY - Kiwis star Benji Marshall is out of the National Rugby League (NRL) for at least eight weeks, meaning he has little chance of facing the Kangaroos on May 9.
Marshall got the good news that his season wasn't over yesterday, after scans revealed damage to the
posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Surgery won't be required after initial fears he would require a knee reconstruction after he limped off the Sydney Football Stadium in the fourth minute of Sunday's 24-16 win over St George-Illawarra.
Wests Tigers club doctor Donald Kuah said Marshall would be sidelined for a period of between eight and 10 weeks.
It is important to note there has been no cartilage damage to the joint, Dr Kuah said.
"There are no other injuries sustained in the joint.
"With regards to this type of injury, there are other players in the league who have played many years with the injury.
"It is an injury that we can do rehabilitation work on."
The Centenary test at the Sydney Cricket Ground is just under eight weeks away, meaning Marshall's recovery would have to be ahead of schedule to be considered for Kiwis selection.
His employers, the Tigers, could also block his test selection if they ruled he wasn't ready for a comeback.
Marshall expressed relief after being told the injury wasn't season-ending.
"It's new territory - I'm just glad it's not my shoulder," he said.
"It's disappointing, but I'll survive. It's football I guess. It could be worse. I'm devastated, but I've been through worse."
Asked if he felt he was cursed, Marshall said: ".... I definitely didn't break the mirror this morning and I haven't walked under any ladders lately. But it feels that way."
The injury continued a rotten run of luck for Marshall, 23, who has played just 63 NRL matches and three tests since his debut in 2003.
In that time he's undergone four shoulder reconstructions, the most recent of which restricted him to just 13 NRL matches last year.
He suffered the knee injury with his first touch of the ball on Sunday after darting into a gap then falling in a seemingly innocuous tackle.
- NZPA