Injury blow for Storm forward

Melbourne Storm second-rower Peter Robinson could be sidelined for up to ten weeks after arthroscopic surgery last night revealed further damage to his injured right knee.

Robinson underwent arthroscopic surgery in an attempt to clear out worn cartilage that was initially thought to have led to the back-rower?s right knee locking up.

But instead of simply washing out the knee, medical staff found a cartilage tear to the lateral meniscus, which required a more involved operation.

?We had initially hoped that there would just be a flake or some worn cartilage in the knee that needed cleaning out but we suspected some cartilage damage as well even though the MRI scan didn?t show that,? Storm physiotherapist Matt Natusch said.

?Unfortunately when they (medical staff) got in there, they found a tear to the lateral meniscus ? which acts like a shock absorber in the knee - so they had to repair that.?

Robinson?s injury is a blow to the Storm?s forward pack after it was initially thought the 28-year-old would miss up to three weeks.

?We are looking at ?Robbo? being out for between eight to ten weeks depending on how well he recovers,? Natusch added.

?He will wear a brace for the first two weeks to keep his knee straight and then the four weeks after that he?ll wear a brace that will allow limited movement and then after that we?ll build him up.?