The Dragons and Storm are preparing to play without their livewire fullbacks next week after Matt Dufty and Ryan Papenhuyzen were hurt in Sunday's Magic Round clash.
St George Illawarra have indicated that Dufty, their equal-leading try-scorer, could miss up to six matches after suffering AC joint damage early in the second half of Melbourne’s 44-18 win at Suncorp Stadium.
It's the same injury that Papenhuyzen had only just overcome after three weeks out. But he lasted 13 minutes in his comeback before being concussed from a high shot by Tyrell Fuimaono, who was sent off.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy was highly doubtful that Papenhuyzen would be fit to face the Raiders on Saturday night.
"He got a bad knock obviously and I think he was [knocked] out for a good 10 seconds or so. He's a bit ginger in the dressing room at the moment," Bellamy said.
Fuimaono sent off for high shot Papenhuyzen
"I think part of that is disappointment … we'll see what the medical team make of that tomorrow and go from there."
Papenhuyzen isn’t Bellamy's only injury concern with hooker Tyson Smoothy suffering a PCL injury and playmaker Ryley Jacks copping a head knock.
Dragons mentor Anthony Griffin, meanwhile, conceded the outlook for Dufty was "not real good".
The speedy custodian was terrific until being forced off, setting up two tries to keep his undermanned team in the fight at the break with the Storm in front 14-10.
Dufty lofts a pass to Ravalawa
Griffin called halves Ben Hunt and Corey Norman "outstanding" as they improved St George Illawarra's attack after somewhat disjointed efforts in previous weeks.
"The second half got away but we had to swap a lot of people around, we had our own injury problems," Griffin said.
"Before half-time, we got ourselves into the game … we paid the penalty for a slow start in the second half. I thought if we could hang in there and get the first try we were a good chance of scrambling away."
Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa said he felt "bittersweet" after scoring a career-first hat-trick in the loss and also being placed on report for a 32nd minute shoulder charge.
"It was a tough game, so hard being down to 12 men against a top side," he told NRL.com.
"But we never gave up, we have to move on and keep going.
"It was hard losing Duff. But we still believe in the team.
"The boys kept working together and trusting each other, scrambling in defence."
Papenhuyzen sends Addo-Carr over
Ravalawa faces a nervous wait before the NRL match review committee unveils their charge sheet after being booked in his return match from suspension.
"I will keep the fingers crossed and see how it pans out. Hopefully I can come back next week and keep playing my best footy," he said.
Lock Josh McGuire (hip drop and high tackle) and centre Fuimaono (high tackle) will also come under scrutiny.
Hooker Andrew McCullough will need to pass HIA protocols if he's to take on Cronulla next round.
