After signing with Cronulla on a one-year deal, the 28-year-old was looking to make the most of an unexpected NRL lifeline after spending the previous season with England club Featherstone.

King is yet to talk publicly about whether or not he will try and return at a professional level after the Sharks confirmed he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday's trial against Canterbury in Port Moresby.

But Tate, who played alongside the hooker at North Queensland in 2014, said King could hang up the boots content should he choose to do so after 43 NRL games.

The former Wagga Kangaroo has endured a multitude of serious injuries since his debut for the Dragons in 2010, and former Australian and Queensland Origin star Tate can relate after a spate of knee surgeries ended his stellar career.

"He was about to get another chance, he's a really good fella and I'm just gutted for him really," Tate said.

"People don't see this stuff that comes with an athlete, they don't see the disappointment.

"It's just been a wretched run for him. I thought he went really well at Parramatta when he was there (the last two seasons, where he played 22 games).

"That's probably the most disappointing thing for them (Sharks) and Kingy, he probably would have got a real crack at playing."

Tate hopes King understands there's more to life than football once the disappointment subsides.

"If you do everything you can to get yourself back playing, at the end of the day it's up to the footy gods in a way," Tate said.

"You can go away with no regrets, because you've given yourself every chance to succeed.

"I don't know the extent of the injury and how bad it is, but what I'd encourage him to remember, and anyone (in this situation) really, is there's a whole lot of life to live outside of footy.

"It can be hard for guys to get their heads around, but from experience there is."

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