Williams suffered the injury with just seven minutes remaining in the match while representing Tonga against Fiji at the weekend.

The 28-year-old was handed a one-year deal by Cronulla after being let go by the Bulldogs.

He was playing for NSW just two years ago and represented the Kangaroos but has been languishing in reserve grade for a year.

He played his first NRL game for the Sharks in Round 9 with coach Shane Flanagan hopeful the big man could deputise during the upcoming Origin period.

But that will not happen with the Manly premiership player’s NRL career likely over considering there was little interest in him when he was fit.

 “He has done his ACL, it’s terrible news,” Flanagan said.

Williams playing for Australia in 2012. 

“Tony played a game last week and he was just starting to get back to what we were asking of him. He was changing the way he trained and played.

“He had been patient and has been working really hard in reserve grade. He got his opportunity against Wests Tigers and scored a try.

“He was coming back into week-to-week calculations for NRL.

“Then, obviously, with Origin coming up, this was going to be his time to stamp his authority.

“Now this happens in a rep game so it’s disappointing for T-Rex and the club.”

Flanagan refused to say whether Williams would be given a contract extension after suffering the injury.

“I don’t want to comment on his future — it’s just disappointing what happened,” he said.

“Potentially we will lose a couple to Origin so he would definitely have come in during that period.”