Rugby: Trio in the wars but all could front next week

Warriors David Fusitu'a is taken off on a stretcher against the Gold Coast Titans. Photo / Getty Images

A bad day became even worse when the Warriors suffered a trio injuries although none appeared as serious as first feared.

While David Fusitu'a, Ryan Hoffman and Jacob Lillyman were all forced from the field in yesterday's disappointing 32-28 loss to the Titans, all three men should be fit following next weekend's representative round.

Fusitu'a returned to first-grade football only this week after a long rehab following a shoulder injury that prematurely ended his last season. And the 20-year-old was fortunate to escape another lengthy lay-off after being taken to hospital with what seemed to be a neck problem.

"Dave Fusitu'a was pretty much precautionary," said Warriors trainer Balin Cupples. "With the tackle, he got his head in the wrong place and jammed down towards his head. He had a little bit of tingling so we took the correct path and sent him to hospital to go through all the necessary tests."

Coach Andrew McFadden saw nothing wrong with the tackle of Ryan James that caused a lengthy delay as Fusitu'a was stabilised and removed on a stretcher. But Greg Bird could be facing judicial trouble after being placed on report for his hit on Hoffman.

The Warriors second-rower was knocked unconscious by the shot and was unsteady on his feet as he was helped off the field, but there were positive signs in the sheds.

Although Hoffman failed the initial concussion protocols, he managed to correctly answer many of the questions, leaving Cupples confident he would be available to face the Sharks in a fortnight.

The timing of the representative round is fortuitous for the Warriors though unlucky for Hoffman, who may miss the City-Country game as he bids to retain his NSW jersey.

Between Hoffman's head knock and Lillyman's knee injury, the Warriors ended the match short in the forwards, yet there was also a good prognosis on the latter. Lillyman was given a precautionary x-ray after sustaining a contusion at the top of his fibula — the x-ray revealed no structural damage.