LEIGH pack star Paul Marsh will be out of action until at least next summer after undergoing major knee surgery.

Back rower Marsh, 24, has snapped a cruciate ligament and has had a reconstruction operation. Surgeons say he will be out for a minimum of six months.

Marsh was carried off in Leigh's last league game at York on September 27.

The injury will hit Leigh hard with Marsh widely regarded as Leigh's toughest tackler and hardest worker.

"It's a savage blow," concedes Leigh's managing director Mick Higgins. "The lad's devastated.

"He went into hospital for a cartilage operation but when they opened the knee up, it was found that the cruciate ligament had snapped.

"They did the reconstruction job straight away but it will be May or June at the earliest before he's back playing. He faces a long programme of rehabilitation.

"I just feel so sorry for the lad. He's played the best rugby of his career this season...and then this happens."

But Leigh have received some more positive news this week with the return to training of Shaun Brown and Hamon Tuavao.

Scrum-half and playmaker Brown, broke his arm in just his second game after signing from Salford, while Tuavao has been out for six weeks with a broken hand.

Meanwhile, Leigh have offered a contract to a second member of the Tongan World Cup squad.

Leigh followed up the signing of centre Jimmy Veikoso by trying to land a so far unnamed teammate.

"We've offered the lad the same deal as Tau Liku and Veikoso are on, and he's gone away to think about it. So far we've heard nothing but we understand that Workington and Halifax are also showing an interest."

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