TODD Payten was inconsolable last night after suffering a suspected broken ankle in a training mishap that's forced him out of Saturday night's grand final qualifier against the Dragons.
Payten rolled his ankle during a sprint drill and there was speculation the culprit may have been a stray tennis ball.
Teammates feared the worst after hearing a crack when Payten collapsed. Unable to walk, he was taken straight from Concord Oval and rushed to a nearby medical centre for scans.
Tigers doctor Donald Kuah was reviewing the X-rays late last night, but Payten is certain to miss the ANZ Stadium blockbuster and is at long-odds to play again this season should the Tigers progress without him.
"We were doing 20m shuttle runs in groups and Toddy just went down like he'd been hit by a sniper," one Tigers player said.
"We all looked around and he was lying in agony.
"They [the training staff] had to help him off the field.
"It doesn't look good and the boys were all shattered for Toddy.
"But what we can we do? We have to get on with it and beat the Dragons."
Payten's absence, however, is the last thing the Tigers need in their quest to upset the premiership favourites before an expected 70,000-plus crowd at Olympic Park.
Star players Bryce Gibbs (foot), Robbie Farah (calf) and Gareth Ellis (back) have all been rested so far this week, while half Robert Lui (hip) has also joined his wounded teammates in the hyperbaric chamber.
Fox Sports stats clearly show how important Payten is to the Tigers: The club has won 14 of 19 games in which he has lined up this season, yet only one of the five that he has missed.
Coach Tim Sheens is expected to summon veteran prop John Skandalis into his squad, with rookie benchman Andrew Fifita now a realistic chance to start.
The injury caps an emotional roller-coaster ride for Payten, who has also been sweating on the birth of his second child this week.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...n-out-for-season/story-e6frexnr-1225928029230
