Hooker Wayde Egan is heading for scans on his right arm when the Warriors return to their base at Gosford, which is giving new coach Nathan Brown early headaches about team cohesion.
The Warriors drew 12-12 with the Titans at Lismore's Oakes Oval on Saturday night, so while the Auckland club didn't fall in a heap losing their No.9 so early in the contest, what lies ahead for round one is uncertain.
"We're not too sure - it really depends on how Wayde is," Brown told NRL.com when asked who is starting hooker would be in two weeks' time when they meet the Titans again.
Egan looked downcast as he came from the field in the 15th minutes with his right arm in a makeshift sling by using his jersey to take the weight.
"We're not too sure what it is. At first we thought he'd dislocated it but that doesn't seem to be the case now. We'll get him scanned Sunday or Monday," Brown said. "He is sore though so that's not great.
"Unfortunately for us we played most of the game without a recognised hooker. With Karl Lawton (Achilles) not being here and then Wayde getting hurt we had to have two makeshift dummy halves.
In Egan's absence it was left to back-rowers Bailey Sironen and Jazz Tevaga to take turns at ball distribution and beginning the set plays.
Match Highlights: Titans v Warriors
"Both those guys did a very solid job but that had a bit of an impact on our attack," Brown said.
"Stil we showed plenty of steel at times but on the downside we made far too many errors. It was a reasonable hit-out and the speed was good... the game has definitely quickened up further which is what everyone wants to see."
Brown took solace that while he's scratching his head over his hooker, he has bought well in the momentum department with forwards Addin Fonua-Blake and Ben Murdoch-Masila impressing in Lismore.
"We've certainly got some stuff to work with. OVer time the team will learn how to use them the best and they'll learn how to inject themselves when it's best for us as well.
"It won't happen overnight as we've got so many new players in our squad. But today's trial was a great learning for us. We certainly have to do some things a lot better."
Brown was also without his starting halfback Chanel Harris-Tevita, who is recovering from a quad strain. But new signing from the Broncos Sean O'Sullivan has given the Warriors the depth in the halves that was needed.
"Sean is here to put pressure on Chanel and obviously offer us that depth," Brown said.
"Like a lot of young blokes he didn't get to play any football last year so for him to have a hit-out with a new club and get through what he did and contend with young David Fifita, he did very well. He certainly had plenty on his plate."
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