Sharks dealt major injury blow as superstar winger sidelined for five months
Cronulla has copped a pre-season blow with star winger Sione Katoa being forced into shoulder surgery.
The Sharks on Thursday announced Katoa went under the knife earlier this week to repair the busted joint.
He was injured during their trial game against the Warriors a fortnight ago.
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Katoa will be sidelined for "four to five months" according to Cronulla, essentially ruling him out for at least half the NRL season.
Sione Katoa. Nine
Katoa was not on the plane as the rest of the squad flew out for Las Vegas on Thursday.
He is a vital cog in the Sharks machine and has a penchant for scoring exciting tries - often by leaping over or around the cornerpost.
He's netted 76 tries in 113 NRL games for the Sharks and crossed for 17 last year alone.
He leaves a gaping hole in the line-up.
The Sharks say Marwene Hiroti or Samuel Stonestreet are in contention to fill the void.
Craig Fitzgibbon's men face four-time reigning premiers Penrith in Vegas on March 2.
