NRL: Warriors without Leuluai for rest of season

Warriors hooker Thomas Leuluai. Photo / Getty Images

Warriors hooker Thomas Leuluai's season is over after scans yesterday confirmed he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Parramatta on Saturday.

Leuluai will have surgery after leaving the field just 23 minutes into the match. The Warriors also lost the equally experienced Ryan Hoffman with concussion in just the third minute.

Leuluai is the third player in the squad to have his campaign ended by an ACL injury. He joins Ben Henry and Ngani Laumape, who have both had knee reconstructions. The Warriors also lost three players with ACL injuries in 2013 - Henry, Sione Lousi and Steve Rapira.

Hoffman, who wasn't able to return to the field on Saturday, is following concussion protocols.

Manu Vatuvei (sternum) and Sam Tomkins (knee) are both on target to play in the Warriors' next match, against Newcastle at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday, May 31, the first home game in five weeks.

A total of seven outside backs were unavailable for last weekend's round - Vatuvei, Tomkins, Laumape, Konrad Hurrell (suspended), David Fusitu'a (groin), Glen Fisiiahi (knee) and Matt Allwood (ankle).

Meanwhile, Queensland skipper Cameron Smith has been charged by the NRL match review committee but he'll be free to play the State of Origin series opener if he enters an early guilty plea.

Smith was yesterday hit with a grade-one dangerous contact charge after kicking out in a tackle, striking South Sydney hooker Issac Luke in the head during the Storm's 16-12 NRL win on Saturday night.

Queensland's team for Origin I will be named today for the clash at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Wednesday week.

Smith has missed just one game at Origin level since making his debut back in 2003, playing in a remarkable 33 of 34 games.

Smith said he didn't even remember the incident. "I was only told about it on the way here [to the press conference] that I had made contact with Isaac Luke," he said.

Sharks and NSW backrower Luke Lewis will also be available for Origin I if he pleads guilty to a grade-one dangerous throw.

After a string of strong performances with Cronulla, Lewis is expected to be selected when Blues coach Laurie Daley names his side.

Knights captain Kurt Gidley and Wests Tigers prop Matt Lodge also won't miss any matches with early guilty pleas to high tackle charges from Sunday's clash in Newcastle. AAP