WOLVES feared the worst when full back Chris Bridge left the field with a leg injury against St Helens on Friday.

Club chiefs have now confirmed that Bridge did rupture his Achilles' tendon in the 13th minute and that he will have an operation on Sunday.

Head coach Paul Cullen has spoken for the first time about Bridge's nightmare scenario after months of hard work in preparation for the new season.

He said: "It's a shocking injury, shocking blow.

"We're all absolutely gutted for him.

"There's no such thing as a good Achilles' rupture and it may well have ended his season.

"He's a little bashed up about it at the minute.

"He's had one pre-op and he now goes in for his operation on Sunday.

"We'll only know when he comes out what the physical state of affairs is with him.

"He knows, regardless, that he's on for a long hard road to recover.

"If you look at the most recent two or three cases, it took Salford's Karl Fitzpatrick a full season to come back and Paul Sculthorpe has not yet returned for St Helens.

"They're not good injuries but he has a lot of rugby league left in front of him hopefully.".