South Sydney Rabbitohs back-rower Angus Crichton has undergone surgery to amputate his finger in a bid to be fit for the start of the 2018 season.
Crichton ruptured a tendon in the middle finger of his left hand and has troubled him ever since.
It's an injury that's plagued the 21-year-old since his time in the NRL's U20's competition.
Souths general manager Shane Richardson confirmed Crichton's upcoming surgery on Thursday morning.
"He's had it partially amputated. He's had a problem with that finger for three years now so he needed to do something about it," Richardson told NRL.com.
"He has had four operations and reconstructions on it and made the choice himself, in discussion with the medical team."
In an attempt to fast-track his return, the procedure will only take two weeks.
"Another reconstruction would have taken him between eight to 10 weeks to get over. This is going to take two weeks," he said.
"It just became so frustrating for him that every off-season he had to have a reconstruction, so he opted to partially amputate his finger. He had this option 12 months ago, and he chose not to do it.
"Now he has chosen to go down this path, a decision he made himself."
Crichton described his dismay in an article written for the playersvoice.com.au
"I can't bend the finger, so it's like I'm constantly giving people the bird. If I clench my fist, my middle finger sticks out," Crichton said.
"The doctor said I could either cut it off halfway or fuse it. I've had it fused several times now because I keep breaking it.
"I've decided this is the last time I'm getting it fused. It's the fourth fusion that's broken and if it happens again I'm going to have it cut it in half, because I'm just over it."
The news follows Crichton's decision to depart the Rabbitohs after next season.
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