Skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has played his last game of the NRL season - perhaps his NZ Warriors farewell - after limping off early against Canberra Raiders on Saturday.
The star fullback left the field midway through the second half with a hamstring injury and immediately ruled out of next week's season finale against Manly Sea Eagles.
If reports are to be believed, Tuivasa-Sheck is poised to switch codes to rugby union next season, as he bids for an All Blacks jersey.
While he sat on the sideline contemplating his future, his team could not dig themselves out of a 26-14 defeat that they dominated for long periods, actually conceding two game-turning tries, while their opponents were a man down just before halftime.
The Warriors opened the scoring, when Peta Hiku ran onto a well-weighted grubber kick from Kodi Nikorima, touching down just before the ball dribbled dead.
Two penalties from Chanel Harris-Tavita and another Hiku try - this time, he spun through a tackle to fall over the line - put them 14-6 ahead and with Raiders playmaker Jack Wighton sin-binned, the Warriors seemed well in control.
But as they pressed for another try, Jazz Tevaga flung a loose offload that was pounced on by Raiders winger Semi Valemei, who ran the length of the field to score.
Moments later, Canberra - still a man short - manufactured another try that gave them an unlikely 16-14 advantage at the break.
Elliott Whitehead ran the ball on the last tackle and when his speculator kick rebounded off Tuivasa-Sheck's shins, the Englishman regathered and kicked to centrefield, where Hudson Young was on hand to score.
Ten minutes after the restart, RTS contributed to his team's downfall, when he flung a 50-50 pass that was intercepted by Whitehead, who burst upfield. As the Warriors scrambled back, NZ Kiwis winger Jordan Rapana, playing at centre, put his winger Nick Cotric over to seal the result.
With Tuivasa-Sheck's exit and Tevaga also failing a head injury assessment, the wind went out of the Warriors sails, as they fell to their 12th loss of the season.
Incoming Warriors coach Nathan Brown isn't confident of retaining the services of Tuivasa-Sheck next season, telling Triple M radio that the captain was only a "possibility" of playing rugby league next year and his presence would be a "bonus" for the club.
Next Sunday, the Warriors face Manly Sea Eagles, before ending their never-ending COVID-19 road trip.
Warriors 14 (Hiku 2 tries; Harris-Tavita conversion & 2 penalties) Raiders 22 (Croker, Young, Cotric & Valemei 2 tries; Croker 2 conversions & penalty)
