The iSelect Gold Coast Titans have been hit by bad news on the eve of their 2014 Telstra Premiership campaign that centre Jamie Dowling looks certain to be sidelined for the season after suffering a knee injury in the opening minute of the Burleigh Bears’ clash with the Central Queensland Capras on Sunday.
Dowling, 23, had scans today that confirmed damage to his anterior cruciate ligament. He will visit a specialist in coming days.
The grandson of former Queensland hooker John Dowling played nine NRL games for the Titans last season and had trained solidly in the off-season with the hope of breaking into John Cartwright’s side during the season and is a valuable squad member.
“It’s a tragedy for Jamie,” said coach John Cartwright. “He’s trained really well and would have played a role in the team at some stage of the season. It’s heartbreaking when it happens to any player at any stage but for him to suffer it in the first minute so early in the year is very tough for him.”