Jesse Ramien to miss up to six weeks with facial fracture as Sharks injury crisis worsens

The Cronulla Sharks’ injury toll has gone from bad to worse, with centre Jesse Ramien facing a stint of up to six weeks on the sidelines with a facial fracture.

Ramien suffered the injury in the 26th minute of the Sharks’ 0-48 defeat at the hands of the Penrith Panthers on Friday, with the club confirming that the 24-year-old sustained a fractured eye-socket.

The absence of Ramien is likely to open the door for out of favour veteran Josh Dugan to return to the Sharks line-up, with Will Chambers preferred in recent weeks.

With Cronulla stuttering to a 2-7 start to the season, the team can ill-afford to lose the 24-year-old who joins a host of stars on the mend.

Ramien will join Braden Hamlin-Uele (syndesmosis/ankle), Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee), Sione Katoa (knee) and Royce Hunt (knee) on the club’s long-term injury list.

While Ramien’s absence is a major blow, the Sharks will be boosted by the return of veteran Andrew Fifita in Round Ten after he served a four-match suspension.

Fifita is one of two Sharks players to be hit with four-match bans, with Siosifa Talakai still having two weeks remaining on his own ban.