St George Illawarra appear certain to be without star fullback Josh Dugan for next Monday's clash with South Sydney while Blues coach Laurie Daley's Origin plans may also need a rethink after Dugan failed to finish his Test debut for the Kangaroos on Sunday.
A potentially serious knee injury to Dugan was the major concern coming out of the representative round while Titans forward Greg Bird was also placed on report for a lifting tackle in Australia's 26-12 loss to the Kiwis at Suncorp Stadium.
The injury to Dugan came from an awkward challenge by New Zealand back-rower Greg Eastwood 11 minutes from full-time, Dugan's knee coming into contact with Eastwood's head as he returned a kick from deep in his own half.
Eastwood also left the field as a result of the collision and took no further part in the game but it is the injury to Dugan that potentially has more wide-ranging ramifications.
Daley's New South Wales team for Game One will be named in three weeks and Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens said it won't be until Dugan has undergone scans on his right knee that the extent of the damage will be known.
"He's got some damage. It will take a scan to find out," Sheens said.
"I don't think it's season-ending or anything like that but he'll be uncomfortable for a while. I don't know whether he'll play next week."
Bird will also have an anxious wait for the charge sheet to be handed out by the match review committee on Monday after he was placed on report for a lifting tackle on Jason Nightingale in the second half.
Although he was unable to elaborate on the incident, Bird said he will be disappointed to miss the Titans' search for a fourth win on the trot when they face the Raiders on Sunday should he face a charge.
"It happens these days with rugby league, you go and make tackles and sometimes the refs see something different from what you see," Bird said.
"It's not for me to make comment on, I didn't think there was too much in it."
