The Bulldogs' premiership campaign is in tatters following news that superstar Sonny Bill Williams may miss the rest of the NRL season.

It was revealed Williams could be sidelined for eight to 12 weeks after tearing the meniscus in his right knee in his comeback match from a nine-week ankle injury on Saturday night.

"The tear is a severe one and the two bones between the meniscus are badly bruised," said Bulldogs spokesman Chris O'Brien.

Kiwi international Williams, 19, will undergo an arthroscopy on Thursday.

It's a crushing blow for the premiers, who are already missing internationals Mark O'Meley (ankle), Willie Tonga (knee) and Willie Mason (foot).

Reni Maitua, Brad Morrin, Trevor Thurling and Nate Myles are also part of an extensive injury list.

The 12th-placed Bulldogs (7-4-1 record) will use their last bye this weekend, meaning they have 12 matches remaining to qualify for the finals.

In a worst-case scenario, injury-prone Williams will not play another NRL match this year and will have to wait until October's Tri-Nations Test against Australia for another comeback.

Williams, who in April re-signed with the Bulldogs until the end of 2007, has played only 20 first grade matches over the past two years because of shoulder, ankle and knee injuries.

Meanwhile, Newcastle football manager Mark Sargent has resigned from the Knights after he and coach Michael Hagan publicly aired their concerns about the future of the club.

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