Another scenario would see Tagive have a replacement donor ligament inserted, however, the club also have significant concerns about the chances of success.

The synthetic ligament surgery was successful for Sydney Swans player Nick Malceski, who was back playing 13 weeks after injuring his knee in a preseason game in 2008.

Malceski, now 25, went on to play in 11 AFL games that season.

However St George Illawarra high performance manager Jeremy Hickmans admitted to holding major reservations about the technique.

There is limited research into the strength and durability of the ligament in the long term.

Contracted next year, Tagive is just 21 and the Dragons believe it may be more beneficial for Tagive's career if he endures the traditional six to nine months of rest and rehabilitation and come back stronger in 2011.

The injury is a cruel blow to the Wests Tigers recruit, who moved to the Dragons after missing most of last season when he was forced to have a shoulder reconstruction.

Tagive has now required reconstructions to both shoulders and has also struggled with a bout of osteitis pubis, before lasting just 14 minutes in the 16-14 Mercury Challenge win.

While Tagive considers his immediate future, the Dragons have other injury concerns.

Centre Matt Cooper struggled with a hamstring problem at training at Corrimal's Ziems Park yesterday morning.