Just days after bringing two new recruits into his squad, Titans coach Neil Henry has conceded that they will have to battle on with what they've got after Aidan Sezer and Ryan James both suffered injuries against the Warriors on Saturday night.
Nene Macdonald and Chad Redman made their debuts for the club after their mid-week arrivals on the Gold Coast and are set to play an even more prominent role against the Roosters next week as the Titans' casualty ward continues to swell.
Sezer tore his hamstring in the second half taking a goal-line drop-out and is expected to be sidelined for 2-3 weeks while James will have scans on a left shoulder injury that saw him play less than 30 minutes.
Already reeling from injuries to key playmakers in Beau Falloon, Kierran Moseley, Matt Srama, Kane Elgey and William Zillman, Henry's second-tier stocks are looking similarly bereft with youngsters Jamal Fogarty and Christian Hazard also on the injured list.
Under-20s hooker Karl Lawton could be thrust forward to make his NRL debut and Daniel Mortimer shifted back to the halves to partner Josh Hoffman, with the likely return of captain Nate Myles to play game No.200 Henry's only bright spot.
"Torn hamstring, kicking the goal-line drop," Henry said of Sezer's injury.
"He felt it grab pretty severely, he was no good to stay at all so I'd say he's going to have to be out for a few weeks so we are a bit devoid of halves and hookers at the moment.
"We're fairly depleted in our second tier as well. Jamal Fogarty is no good and Christian Hazard has been injured for quite a while too so we'll have to look at it during the week but the important thing now is that we rest up, ice up and get a recovery and get on the road to Gosford for a tough game next week.
"The two new recruits have done a good job today and they'll certainly be needed next week and the next few weeks.
"We don't have any players coming back next week – even Will Zillman could be long term – so what we've got is what we've got and the boys know that."
James re-injured the shoulder he had season-ending surgery on last season midway through the first half and lasted just a few tackles when he returned briefly in the second half.
In one attempt at tackle James refused to use his left shoulder at all, his arm hanging limply by his side for the remainder of the set before he headed back to the sidelines.
"There's some sort of tear there around the shoulder capsule, we'll have to get a scan done and he could be in some doubt as well. We're a bit banged up at the moment," Henry said.
"He's had shoulder surgery before. The doc didn't think it was too serious initially but he didn't have any power there so he just wasn't right."
Falloon, Moseley, Elgey and the suspended Greg Bird are all expected back in the weeks following the Titans' bye in Round 17 but unless they can manufacture a win against the Roosters in Gosford their returns may be too late to revive Gold Coast's finals hopes.
