Roosters lose rookie forward in
freak training fall

Sydney Roosters coach Ricky Stuart will consider his front-row options today after losing rookie prop Anthony Tupou for Sunday's National Rugby League match against Cronulla with a broken leg.

Tupou was set to make his premiership debut from the interchange bench at Toyota Park, but will find himself in plaster instead after a freak training mishap yesterday.

Rooster's spokesman Brian Canavan says Tupou was involved in some simple, straight run-throughs nearing the end of training when he suddenly collapsed in agony.

He fractured his tibia and isn't expected back for six months, meaning his season is almost certainly over before it began.