PENRITH'S former international winger Luke Rooney will be sidelined for 12 weeks with a neck injury.
Rooney, 24, will undergo surgery next week on a prolapsed disc after taking a knock in the Panthers' loss to St George-Illawarra last Friday.
The lanky winger, who has played five State of Origin matches for New South Wales and six Tests for Australia, complained of soreness in his neck and underwent CAT and MRI scans this week.
The disc was found to be pressing on Rooney's spinal cord and he requires fusion micro-surgery.
"I've been booked in for an operation next week, probably Monday," Rooney said.
"It's not a career threatening injury, but it's really disappointing."
The Panthers are struggling after just two wins in 2007 and five losses in their past five outings.
They have also lost forwards Trent Waterhouse (leg) and Shane Rodney (shoulder) to serious injuries.
"I think we are about to turn our season around and I want to be a part of that," Rooney said.
AAP
Rooney, 24, will undergo surgery next week on a prolapsed disc after taking a knock in the Panthers' loss to St George-Illawarra last Friday.
The lanky winger, who has played five State of Origin matches for New South Wales and six Tests for Australia, complained of soreness in his neck and underwent CAT and MRI scans this week.
The disc was found to be pressing on Rooney's spinal cord and he requires fusion micro-surgery.
"I've been booked in for an operation next week, probably Monday," Rooney said.
"It's not a career threatening injury, but it's really disappointing."
The Panthers are struggling after just two wins in 2007 and five losses in their past five outings.
They have also lost forwards Trent Waterhouse (leg) and Shane Rodney (shoulder) to serious injuries.
"I think we are about to turn our season around and I want to be a part of that," Rooney said.
AAP
