Panthers' five-eighth Jarome Luai left the field early in the second half of the Panthers' 26-24 grand final victory over the Broncos after appearing to reinjure his troublesome left shoulder, with the gamble to bring him back into the team for the last two games of the season backfiring.
Luai's season looked over after he dislocated his shoulder in Penrith's round 26 loss to Parramatta before he made an earlier-than-expected comeback in last week's preliminary final.
Luai came from the field in the 51st minute of the decider. In his absence, livewire Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam scored two quick tries to grab the grand final by the scruff of the neck. At that point the Panthers looked shot.
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"When he came from the field in front of us it was not looking good at all," Nine's sideline commentator Danika Mason said.
"His arm was hanging limp by his side."
Riding the pine under injury assessment, the Panthers' medical team said they were hopeful that Luai would return but the 26-year-old played no further part as his team launched a stunning comeback and achieved a historic three-peat.
"It's not about me, it's about this team and it's about a community," Luai told Nine post-match.
"People thought we were down, I was sitting on the bench and we were never out.
"I love these boys."
Giving an insight into the seriousness of his injury, Luai admitted he tried pain management at the main break to help him play out the remainder of the match.
"I tried needles at halftime. It got me out there but then it just felt the same," he said.
"I did my best and the boys brought it home."
Luai will most likely require post-season surgery to aid his recovery.
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