Tupou may not play again this season after Warriors forward Konrad Hurrell lifted his knee and collected Tupou in the face earlier this month. The Cronulla veteran suffered a broken jaw which required 16 screws and four metal plates to rewire. The injury, one of the most sickening in recent memory, resulted in Hurrell receiving a three-week suspension for dangerous contact.

Tupou will spend much longer on the sidelines and it is unclear whether he will return at all in 2015. The setback couldn't have come at a worse time for the former NSW and Australian forward, who is off contract at the end of the season.

The Sharks have a host of players unsigned beyond 2015 including captain Paul Gallen, Michael Gordon, Jeff Robson, Blake Ayshford, Nathan Gardner, Chris Heighington and Kyle Stanley. Given the latest injury, Tupou is unlikely to be a priority, particularly if he can't press his claims for a new deal for some time to come.

The 31 year old – who previously returned from an ACL by having the achilles tendon of a dead man inserted into the region – is adamant the latest injury won't finish him.

"I feel I've still got more to give," Tupou told Fairfax Media.

"Obviously I want to play [this year] but I'm just not sure, they haven't given me a time on how long it might be.

"Of course [I want to re-sign], I've been here for seven years. I'm off contract and we haven't really sorted anything out yet, we're in the middle of doing it actually.

"A few people have told me that [the injury could jeopardise my career prospects], it's not good to hear.

"It's not going to affect my footy ability."

Hurrell was full of remorse for lifting the knees and even travelled with the Warriors across the Tasman for their clash against Parramatta while suspended in the hope of apologising to Tupou personally.

"Obviously I feel bad about what happened and I didn't do it intentionally, but I guess that's footy," Hurrell said.

While the pair wasn't able to meet as planned, Hurrell is still hopeful of catching up as soon as possible.

"He didn't get a chance to come over, it just didn't work out," Tupou said.

"I heard he was keen to make contact and his manager said he would try to come over again to see me."

Asked if there were any hard feelings over the hit, Tupou said: "I don't want to talk about that."

The incident ignited fresh debate about the prospect of an 18th man being available to replace victims of foul play. The NRL is close to finalising its position on the interchange for next year, with a reduction – and the possibility of an 18th man –  being examined.

"I haven't thought too much about that but it might be handy," Tupou said.

"Hopefully that stuff doesn't happen again."

The backrower, who has made 221 NRL appearances for the Roosters and Cronulla since making his first-grade debut in 2004, is still unable to eat solids due to the severity of the injury.

"I haven't really chewed, I still can't do that yet," he said.

"It's still soft foods and probably will be for maybe another three weeks."