NZ Warriors star Shaun Johnson has surrendered goalkicking duties, as he nurses a troublesome leg injury through the final weeks of the NRL regular season.
The resurgent halfback converted his team's opening try in the 30-22 win over Wests Tigers on Saturday, before handing the responsibility to centre Adam Pompey, who added extra points on three of their next four.
As the Warriors hone in on their first playoff campaign since 2018, Johnson has kicked 71 goals, just eight behind competition leader Adam Reynolds of Brisbane Broncos, and is already the leading scorer in the club's history.
Coach Andrew Webster has shrugged off the quad niggle that hasn't affected his general play so far.
"He feels it when he kicks," said Webster. "You could see the one he kicked, you could see it hurt him.
"Once again, Shaun owned the result at the end of the game with a great pass, so it's not affecting his football. It's just precautionary around his goalkicking.
"If anyone saw how often Adam Pompey has been practicing his goalkicking, you'd know Shaun's confident of handing over the reins, but the moment Shaun fixes that quad and we get that right, I'm sure he will go back to those duties."
While shooting for goal is a relatively new concept for Pompey, he has been the designated kickoff specialist throughout the season.
Curiously, with the game on the line, Johnson reverted back to his goalkicking role, slotting a late penalty that extended the margin over Wests to six points or a converted try.
He then provided the assist for prop Addin Fonua-Blake to score under the crossbar and seal the victory - the Warriors' fifth in a row. Pompey kicked the conversion.
Fonua-Blake immediately hobbled off the field with an ankle tweak that Webster insists will not affect his availability against Manly Sea Eagles on Friday.
More concerning was the throat injury suffered by hooker Wayde Egan, who has already dealt with his share of head knocks this season. He copped a high elbow while trying to tackle Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu, who was put on report.
Egan left the field for a head injury assessment, which he passed, but then went to hospital for further examination for his throat.
"He's good, we're confident," said Webster. "He got hit in the throat and at this stage, he's fine.
"He's gone to hospital for a check-up. We'll know more, but it was more precautionary.
"When you're hit in the throat and something goes wrong, you're better to be at hospital. Nothing has gone wrong, but we definitely couldn't risk him to return and the safest place was for him to get a check-up."
Sideline reports suggested Egan struggled to pass his concussion test, because he could not answer the questions with his damaged throat.
Interchange forward Bayley Sironen deputised for Egan at dummy half for the remainder of the contest.
Join Newshub at 8pm Friday for live updates of the Warriors v Sea Eagles NRL clash
