The heavyweight prop had scans taken yesterday and will visit Dr Neil Halpin today.

Having experienced a nightmarish pre-season 12 months ago, punctuated by a mystery virus, torn ligament in his neck and torn abdominals, Wicks was disappointed last night to again be facing a stint of physio and rehabilitation instead of full training.

"It must be my pre-season hoodoo," he said.

"I tore it [his abdominals] last year and the year before that as well. I don't think I've had a proper pre-season since I started playing footy, so I suppose I'm used to it by now."

Wicks gained some solace from the knowledge that he had plenty of time to recover for Newcastle's 2010 trials, unlike last season, when his first on-field action was against Manly in round four.

"It's before Christmas, early in the piece, so I'm not too concerned," he said.

Newcastle's players were pushed to their physical limits during their three-day camp at Singleton, embarking on a host of military-style exercises, but Wicks said his injury occurred in a routine training session.

"'We were just doing some footy skills," he said.

"It's very sore but hopefully it won't set me back too much."

Newcastle's other casualty from the camp was rookie prop Joel Edwards, who was nursing torn ligaments after rolling an ankle.

[PI9016] Former Knights prop Dane Tilse has extended his contract with the Canberra Raiders through to 2012.

And Melbourne have lost lock Dallas Johnson to French-based Super League club Catalans Dragons after he received an offer that was "too good to refuse".