The 29-year-old will miss the rest of the season after breaking his thumb in the Bulls semi-final loss to St Michaels on Sunday.

Newcombe was struck on the hand on the third delivery of his innings, before battling through the pain to top score with 24.

He was hoping the injury wasn’t as bad as first feared but was told it will take four weeks for the injury to heal.

It means Newcombe could miss the Bulls’ two most important matches of the season.

“I’m gutted,” Newcombe said. “I was hoping it was just bruised and I could keep playing but it is no good.”

Newcombe was already fighting injury, struggling with shin splints in his left leg, and hadn’t been bowling in an endeavor to make an impact during the finals.

“I’ve been battling a sore left leg as well and haven’t bowled for about a month to give it a rest for finals but it didn’t work out they way I wanted it to,” he said.

Newcombe’s place in the team has been taken by Matthew Tom, who was away with representative duties last week.

Captain Rob Nicoll was disappointed to lose Newcombe, especially after the toughness he showed against the Saints after being hit by Angus Le Lievre.

After just coming up short of booking a grand final berth last week, Nicoll is looking for his team to be more consistent with their season on the line.

“We want to put a complete performance together, bat all day, build pressure and create opportunities when we bowl,” Nicoll said.