New Zealand Rugby League officials will be sweating on scans for star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck after he suffered a suspected medial ligament as the Warriors crashed out of the NRL finals.
Tuivasa-Sheck had to be assisted from the field midway through the first half of their elimination final defeat to Penrith following his knee collided with Panthers rake Sione Katoa.
The Warriors never recovered from Tuivasa-Sheck's exit, with the focus now turning on his availability for the Kiwis' Test against Australia in Auckland on October 13.
New Zealand then play four Tests in a tour of Europe.
"I guess it was a bit of a sense when Roger did come off there was a bit of a lull in our energy. That didn't help," Warriors coach Stephen Kearney said after the loss.
"But I thought we were still in the contest. We just didn't find any momentum in the second half. At this stage, it looks like a medial. But we need to get some scans first thing on Monday."
It was a disappointing end to the NRL campaign for Tuivasa-Sheck, who is considered one of the front-runners for the prestigious Dally M medal as player of the year.
The 25-year-old missed the Kiwis' controversial mid-season Test against England, with Panthers fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak wearing the No.1 jumper.
The loss to Penrith also marked the end of veteran Simon Mannering's career in a season that looked promising for the Warriors having won their opening five games.
"It's important to recognise that (strong start). It's a pretty disappointed dressing room because we didn't put our best performance out there," Kearney said.
"But we have made some progress this year, there's no doubt about that.
"The competition has showed guys that were playing (preliminary) finals last year, grand finals last year. In a blinking of an eye it can head the other way."
