Boom teenager Bradman Best has been ruled out of Sunday's clash against Wests Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium with an elbow injury in a huge blow to the Knights.
The Newcastle Herald understands the dynamic 19-year-old centre damaged a ligament in his elbow at training on Thursday and did not take part in the club's captain's run today.
Centre Gehamat Shibasaki, who was 18th man against the Warriors last weekend in Gosford, is now considered a certain starter for the Tigers game.
Best's latest setback continues his cursed run with injury over the past couple of seasons.
He played just 11 games last season and was forced to have three surgeries during the year.
It's unclear at this stage how long he will be sidelined but it's likely to be for an extended period.
Best's withdrawal is a huge blow to the Knights, who are chasing their third consecutive win to start the season against the winless Tigers.
The young centre turned in a match-winning performance in his side's 20-16 win over the Warriors and his withdraw strips the Knights of some real attacking firepower out wide.
He threw the final pass for two Hymel Hunt tries including the match-clincher in the final minutes in Gosford.
"We don't win that game without Bradman," former Knights Test centre Matt Gidley said.
"He can do things I could never do."
Best joins a long list of top 30 players who are sidelined with injuries including Kalyn Ponga, Blake Green, Edrick Lee, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Phoenix Crossland [also suspended], Bailey Hodgson and Jirah Momoisea.
