Puletua gone for the season

Firebrand Panther Tony Puletua will undergo season-ending surgery this Thursday as the fallout from Friday's gruelling encounter with Melbourne continues. Puletua's injury, similar to that suffered by St George Illawarra's Luke Bailey in recent years, is a tear to his pectoral muscle.

It's a huge blow for the Panthers who have lost Joe Galuvao for up to a month also, suffering from a groin injury. On top of that, the New Zealand Test side has lost four key forwards with Sonny Bill Williams unavailable and Monty Betham sure to be spending a considerable spell on the sidelines after his spear tackle at the weekend.