Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita has been admitted to intensive care and sedated after suffering a serious throat injury during an NRL match.
Royal Brisbane Hospital said Fifita was in a critical but stable condition.
Fifita injured his throat during the Sharks' 16-14 loss to Newcastle in Redcliffe on Sunday.
He was scheduled to see a specialist at the hospital on Monday afternoon.
The Sharks released a statement on Sunday evening, saying Fifita had difficulty swallowing because of the "significant laryngeal injury".
It is believed Fifita sustained a blow to the throat early in the second half of the loss to the Knights and reportedly had trouble breathing, as well as difficulty swallowing.
About 20 minutes after the match ended, a distressed Fifita was brought out of the dressing room and onto the field where he was examined by paramedics before being taken to hospital by ambulance.
The 32-year-old played just 13 minutes of the match, coming off in the 39th minute for a head injury assessment after colliding with Kurt Mann's shoulder while taking a hit-up.
He was cleared of a concussion at half-time, but was taken off the field again in the 46th minute and did not return to the match.
Fifita, a former Australia, Tonga and NSW prop, is signed with Cronulla until the end of 2022.
ABC/AAP
