NZ Warriors' record-breaking defeat to Melbourne Storm may come at an even greater cost, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Josh Curran both facing time on the sidelines with injury.
As the Warriors slipped to a 70-10 defeat - the worst in the club's history - the Auckland side's efforts were hamstrung by injury to key players.
The pair's absence cut the Warriors interchange bench from four players to two, as coach Nathan Brown conceded fatigue played its part in the huge loss.
Watene-Zelezniak, 26, suffered a concussion in a freak accident, colliding with teammate Bayley Sironen while fielding a kick, falling into the path of giant prop Nelson-Asofa Solomona, whose knee connected with the Warriors winger's head.
Coach Nathan Brown has confirmed Watene-Zelezniak suffered a concussion, but was "up and walking". Watene-Zelezniak cannot return to play until cleared by a doctor, under the NRL's concussion protocol.
Brown also confirms Curran has suffered an injury to his medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his knee.
Depending on the severity, Curran may face surgery, although no official word has been given by the club on any prospective recovery time.
The losses of Watene-Zelezniak and Curran come with the Warriors due to name their side for their next NRL clash, less than 24 hours after the loss to the Storm.
The Warriors next face Canberra Raiders on Saturday at Redcliffe's Moreton Daily Stadium.
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