The Bulls’ agonising late defeat against Castleford cost them more than just two points – Glenn Morrison bust his wrist and will be out for three months.

The inspirational Australian loose forward underwent reconstructive surgery yesterday morning and won’t return until early July.

It is a hammer blow for the club as they bid to overcome their faltering start to Super League XIV and with a massive Carnegie Challenge Cup tie looming in Perpignan on Sunday.

Vice-captain Morrison picked up his second try of the year on Sunday, helping Bradford amass a 26-10 lead with just ten minutes to go.

But then they crumbled horribly, conceding 18 unanswered points to go down 28-26, leaving them with just one win from their opening six games.

Amazingly, Morrison, 32, suffered the injury early in the contest but played on for the entire 80 minutes, delivering a typically influential performance.

However, there was no other option but to undergo surgery yesterday after it was discovered he had ruptured ligaments in his wrist. Boss Steve McNamara must now face up to the prospect of stopping the rot without one of his main troops.

“I am desperately disappointed for Glenn because he has been playing really well this year,” said the Odsal chief.

“Such is his courage that he never mentioned the injury until after the game, although he did it in the opening minutes.

“It is a blow for us but these things are part and parcel of the game and Glenn’s injury will give an opportunity for someone else to step up.”

Morrison has been Bradford’s leading performer so far. He shrugged off the team’s indifferent start, bouncing back from the knee and quad injuries that blighted his 2008 campaign to consistently take them forward.

The squad will undoubtedly miss his drive, work-rate and leadership, while he has also proved a real attacking threat this term.

Bradford do have back-row options though. Despite recovering from a virus, England international Matt Cook failed to even make the 17-man squad at The Jungle.

He will undoubtedly come back into contention for this weekend’s clash in France, while Mike Worrincy has only been used sparingly so far.

Morrison’s enforced absence should give him a chance to assert himself following his winter move from Harlequins and David Solomona is also due to return from a dislocated shoulder around Easter.

Meanwhile, Morrison is pencilled in to make his comeback, ironically against Sunday’s conquerors Castleford, when they arrive at Odsal on Sunday, July 5.