Tapine has undergone surgery to repair a fracture in a finger he injured during the Raiders’ golden point loss to the Cowboys on Saturday night in Townsville. 

The 21-year-old won't be available for the Raiders again until at least round 6-7. 

It is a massive blow, but when one door closes another one opens, and Tapine’s injury could be the catalyst for Taylor’s NRL return.

The 28-year-old earned a one-year contract with the Green Machine after a hard-fought off-season.

He was signed to a train-on wage and supplemented his oncome by working at a local pub and shed 9kg from his frame.

It is a far cry from the lofty height’s Taylor reached playing for QLD and Australia early in his career which had many touting him as a future great of the game.