The two-time premiership winning coach was injured on the first play of the day at Harris Park on Sunday.

It was far from the start new captain-coach Kyle McCarthy wanted, but he’s hopeful it is not too serious.

“It was just a little knee injury, I don’t think it is too bad but I haven’t heard much about it,” McCarthy said.

“First run of the game so it was a big loss.”

Skinner is no stranger to knee injury after rupturing his patella tendon during the 2015 finals series.

However McCarthy thought it was more of a twisted knee this time around.

Albury were without plenty of players for the clash, but really gave the undefeated ladder leaders a scare.

The Thunder trailed 14-10 at half-time and there was little between the two sides all day.

The biggest margin was only 10 points, but the Bulls were able to hold off a late charge.

McCarthy was pleased with how his team ground out the win despite being their opposition plenty of chances through poor ball handling.

“They played pretty good, were solid and stuck it to us,” he said.

“It is good to win in all types of game situations too.

“Like we get ahead early and there aregames where we are really behind but come back to win while today’s game was just a grind for the whole 80.

“I was really proud we stuck in it for the whole 80 and put it away and got the win.”

McCarthy was also impressed by how Josh Cochrane stepped up in Skinner’s absence to help the team over the line.

He scored an important try midway through the second half to push the Bulls’ lead back out to 10 points.

Alex Jones set up a grandstand finish when he crossed with six minutes remaining but the Thunder couldn’t find another way through to complete what would have been the upset of the season so far.

Despite coming up short coach Adrian Purtell was thrilled with the effort his team put in against the competition favourites.

“We knew it was always going to be a tough challenge no matter who we took up there and as a coach all you can ask of your players was just to turn up and have a go,” Purtell said.

“I thought they really did that.

“It was just unfortunate that probably a couple of our own mistakes gifted them tries but there are plenty of positives to take out of that game.”

Playing with a makeshift halfback following injuries to Kane Hammond and Curtly Jenkinson, and being without star centres Joel Mongahan and Robbie Byatt plus forwards Josh Remmington and Liam Wiscombe it was never going to be easy for the Thunder.

However Etu Uaisele stood tall while Jon Huggett and Brad Hill were also strong.

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