The Cronulla Sharks have confirmed Jesse Ramien has been forced to undergo surgery for a pectoral muscle injury.
He was originally set to try and rehab the injury without surgery, much the way Penrith Panthers lock and captain Isaah Yeo has done in a bid to get back on the field this year, but it has now emerged that Ramien's season is over.
It also means that, given he has signed with the North Queensland Cowboys for next season, his Cronulla Sharks career is over.
Ramien is joined by winger Sione Katoa in making the switch from the Sharks to the Cowboys for the start of the 2027 campaign.
His recovery, which will likely be around three months, should have him back on the field at the start of his first pre-season in Townsville as Todd Payten attempts to build a team capable of winning the premiership.
Ramien will be replaced this weekend by Mawene Hiroti at the Sharks, who played last week with KL Iro out to a concussion.
Michael Gabrael and Chris Vea'ila, who also leaves the club at the end of the year bound for the Perth Bears, are the other options to come into the side.
Ramien, who debuted for the Sharks in 2017, has played 167 games for the club, while he also had a 17-game stint in 2019 with the Newcastle Knights.
The club confirmed it will provide Ramien a chance to farwell the fans during the club's last home game of the year, and that he will continue to work with the playing group through to the end of the season.
