THE Cowboys will be without livewire hooker Jake Granville for up to six weeks with a broken leg.

Granville injured his leg in the final minutes of last weekend’s 20-6 win over South Sydney, but the resilient dummy half played on believing that it was just a cork.

Granville was a notable absentee from North Queensland’s open training session at 1300SMILES Stadium this morning and club officials confirmed that he has suffered a fractured fibula.

Injury forces Cowboys shake-up

Full squads: Round 6 NRL teams

It’s a crushing blow for the Cowboys given Granville’s sensational form to start the season, with two tries and four try assists in just five games as well as averaging 27 tackles in defence.

The club already has a devastating injury toll with Origin prop Matt Scott and potential back-up dummy half Josh Chudleigh both out for the season with serious knee injuries.

The Cowboys will confirm Granville’s replacement in the No. 9 jersey when they name the 21-man squad for Saturday’s home clash with the Wests Tigers later this afternoon.