KEY POINTS:
The opening round of the NRL has proved to be a costly one for some clubs with several big name players struck down by injury.
Warriors captain Steve Price is the latest player in the casualty ward after tearing his hamstring 20 minutes into the game against the Storm last night.
Price will undergo scans today to determine the severity of the injury but it is more than likely the Warriors will be without their inspirational leader for a substantial period.
Souths halfback Craig Wing started the trend in the season opener against the Roosters on Friday.
The Rabbitohs' major off-season recruit will miss three months of football after dislocating his shoulder in a controversial "prowler" tackle.
Wing was held up in the tackle by two Roosters defenders before a third, hooker Riley Brown, finished him off with a shoulder charge.
Meanwhile, New Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney will be anxiously awaiting the scan results of young superstars Krisnan Inu and Sonny Bill Williams.
It is almost certain Kearney will be without the services of Benji Marshall for the centenary test against Australia on May 9 after the Tigers five-eighth was ruled out for at least eight weeks yesterday.
Marhsall damaged the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the opening minutes of the match against the Dragons and continues his rotten luck with injuries in his brief career so far.
The 2005 premiership-winning player has already undergone four shoulder reconstructions, the most recent of which restricted him to just 13 NRL matches last year.
Parramatta centre Inu and Bulldogs second-row Williams' sustained ankle and knee injuries respectively in their clash on Saturday and, although they do not appear as serious as Marshall's, any period the duo miss will be a concern for Kearney.
Brisbane's Joel Clinton (knee, four weeks), Newcastle's Steve Simpson (knee, six weeks) and Cronulla's Ben Ross (concussion, two weeks) were other big names on the injury list after the opening round.
NRL casualty ward
(not all injuries occurred in round one)
Brisbane: Joel Clinton (ACL knee - up to four weeks), Corey Parker (PCL knee).
Bulldogs: Justin Tsoulos (ribs), Daryl Millard (shoulder - round four), Nick Kouparitsas (pectoral - indefinite), Sonny Bill Williams (knee)
Canberra: William Zillman (concussion), Neville Costigan (quadriceps), Brett Kelly (knee - round three)
Cronulla: Ben Ross (concussion, teeth - round three), Mitch Brown (foot - round four)
Gold Coast: Matt Petersen (hip - round six), Chris Walker (achilles tendon - season), Matt Cross (face - indefinite), Gavin Cooper (hernia - indefinite)
Manly: Steve Matai (neck - round three)
Melbourne: Michael Crocker (shoulder - indefinite), Greg Inglis (shoulder - indefinite)
Newcastle: Steve Simpson (knee - round seven), Ben Cross (wrist - round four), Mitchell Sargent (illness - indefinite)
Warriors: Wade McKinnon (knee - season), Steve price (knee)
North Queensland: Ben Farrar (foot - round four)
Parramatta: Krisnan Inu (ankle), Ben Smith (knee/shoulder - indefinite), Chad Robinson (wrist - indefinite)
Penrith: Luke Lewis (hand - round four), Tim Grant (ankle - round 10)
South Sydney: Craig Wing (shoulder - six to 12 weeks)
St George Illawarra: none
Sydney Roosters: none
Wests Tigers: Benji Marshall (PCL knee - six to 12 weeks), Dean Collis (hamstring - round six), Bryce Gibbs (ankle - round five), Shannon McDonnell (hamstring - round three), Ryan O'Hara (jaw - round seven)
- NZ HERALD STAFF, AAP
