KEY POINTS:
New Zealand Warriors centre Jerome Ropati has been sidelined from the National Rugby League for the rest of the year with a fractured shoulder blade.
Ropati, 22, was an early casualty in the Warriors' 36-14 win over Manly in Auckland last Sunday, lasting just 10 minutes before going off with a shoulder problem.
The damage was confirmed after an MRI scan on Wednesday, putting Ropati out of action for up to 12 weeks.
Head coach Ivan Cleary said the extent of the injury had been difficult to assess in the first two days after the match but a scan had revealed a fracture in Ropati's left scapula or shoulder blade.
"It's really bad luck for Jerome. He's had some injury setbacks this year and had been in great form for us so to lose him now is disappointing for him and for us," he said.
Ropati said he hoped to recover in time to take a full part in the club's off-season training programme.
"It's ended my season for 2007 which isn't good news but that's the way it goes," he said.
Ropati had been in a rich vein of form.
While he had played in only 11 games before Sunday's clash against Manly, he had scored 10 tries this season.
Back rower Wairangi Koopu replaced Ropati against the Sea Eagles, scoring twice in his 150th appearance for the club.
Koopu has been retained at centre in the starting 13 for the trip to Penrith on Saturday night, when a win by the Warriors would secure them a top-four finish and home advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Whether Koopu would continue to be used wider out remained to be seen, Cleary said.
"I thought he did a really good job at the weekend," he said
"He gives us that bit more size out there. But we just have to get through this week and see what we do from there."
Options at Cleary's disposal include Tony Martin and Lance Hohaia, who have playing for the Auckland Lions in the New South Wales Premier League.
- NZPA
