NRL: Warriors suffer a blow with young hooker Nathaniel Roache out for the season with back injury

Young Warriors hooker Nathaniel Roache is booked in for surgery on a back injury. Photo / Photosport.

The Warriors have suffered a blow ahead of the start of the NRL season next week with young hooker Nathaniel Roache ruled out for the year with a back injury.

The 21-year-old is booked to have surgery on a lumbar disc injury next week and is not expected to return to the field this season.

It's a cruel twist of fate for the club's 2016 Rookie of the Year who suffered the setback while working through his return from a ruptured Achilles tendon injury which ended his 2017 season in August last year.

"It's really sad for Nate and we're all feeling for him," said Warriors coach Stephen Kearney.

"He's a wonderful young man with a terrific attitude despite the adversity he has faced in his career.

"He made an excellent recovery from his Achilles surgery only for this to happen. We wish him all the best for his surgery and we're confident he'll come back better than ever."

Roache made 11 appearances in his NRL rookie season and added another nine last year before suffering his Achilles injury in training.

One of the fittest players in the Warriors squad, Roache was again expected to push hard for the No9 jumper this season after he managed to usurp former Kiwis test hooker Issac Luke last year prior to his injury.

Roache's misfortune has seen the club blood 24-year-old Sam Cook in the dummy-half role in their two recent trial victories over Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

Cook is now in line to win a spot in the Warriors side for round one and could make his NRL debut against South Sydney in Perth next Saturday.

Following the departure of young playmaker Ata Hingano to Canberra, the Warriors yesterday announced the signing of former Titans utility Karl Lawton, who is capable of playing a variety of positions including hooker.

Meanwhile, new signing Gerard Beale continues to make progress in his recovery from the broken leg which ended his World Cup campaign in the Kiwis' opening match against Toa Samoa last October.

The former Cronulla premiership winning centre is expected to be available in late April.