THE immediate playing future of South Sydney young gun Kyle Turner remains uncertain with the Rabbitohs edge backrower diagnosed with a bulging disc in his neck.

The Sunday Telegraph was told Turner required fusion surgery and was expected to be ruled out for the remainder of the season, with South Sydney beginning the search for a replacement backrower.

But after an appointment with a Gold Coast specialist on Friday, the Rabbitohs remain hopeful of Turner becoming available for the back end of the season.

Despite sustaining the injury in the All Stars fixture last month, Turner travelled to Brisbane with the premiers for Thursday night’s season-opening victory over the Broncos.

There were initially fears Turner was facing an indefinite period out of the game after it emerged the Indigenous All Stars forward was suffering pins and needles in his arms and hands.

But South Sydney coach Michael Maguire said the premiers remained optimistic Turner may only miss the next three months of football.

media_camera Kyle Turner looks set to be ruled out for the season

“More than likely he’s going to need some form of surgery but the medical experts were more positive about the process they had to go through,” Maguire said.

“We’re being very thorough and making sure we get all the necessary medical information from all the different surgeons.

“Troy Thompson our high performance manager has been very thorough in making sure we get exactly what’s required for Kyle.

“We’re not rushing this decision. Kyle’s welfare comes first. One surgeon did advise a fusion surgery whereas another has suggested a shave or a replacement.”

The Sunday Telegraph has been told Rabbitohs recruitment manager Grant Jones has begun the mission to find a replacement backrower, with the club preparing for the possibility Turner may be ruled out for the entire season.

Maguire said the reason Jones was scouting a backrower was because the Rabbitohs “still had a position available”.

After a shocking run of concussions last season, Turner suffered the neck injury inside the opening four minutes of the NRL All Stars fixture and was stretchered from the field.

NRL All Stars and NSW Origin captain Paul Gallen was responsible for the tackle, with the match review committee later determining the Cronulla backrower had no case to answer.

Turner remained in hospital on the Gold Coast at the time and was ruled out of travelling to England for the Rabbitohs World Club Challenge victory against St Helens.

Turner’s family initially posted concerns about his immediate playing future on social media last month.