Surgery could end King's season

Sideline stint ... Jason King may not return to the park in 2013. Source: Robb Cox / AAP

Manly Sea Eagles have suffered a huge injury blow, with co-captain Jason King facing surgery that could end his season.

King has only featured sporadically for Manly this season, one of a number of high profile players to be struck down by injury - fullback Brett Stewart is on the sidelines and veteran forward Joe Galuvao is already out for the year.

Now it appears King could be in the same category as Galuvao, with the 32-year-old deciding to go the surgery route on his troublesome shoulder after originally being scheduled to return to action in round nine.

"Kingy is going to have shoulder surgery and we’re hoping to have him back towards the end of the season," coach Geoff Toovey told NRL.com.

"You’ve got to wait for those things to settle down a little bit before you make the decision on surgery. We decided a few days ago."

Toovey was unsure if King would return in time for the finals.

"We don’t know. We’re just hoping," he said.

King missed the entire 2012 season due to a pectoral muscle injury, and the latest setback will cast serious doubts over whether the veteran front-rower will ever return to his best in the NRL.

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