Daly Cherry-Evans' farewell season in the NRL may morph into a recovery effort for the Sydney Roosters, with the team awaiting updates on Sam Walker's ankle injury.
Walker had scans late Saturday night, leaving Allianz Stadium in a moon boot after the Roosters' 26-12 defeat against the Dolphins.
The Roosters were uncertain about the severity of Walker's injury after the match, but concerns arose since he remained down following a tackle by Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.
Should Walker be sidelined, it would be a significant setback, as he has been one of the team's standout players this year, contributing to their State of Origin success.
This situation emerges at a critical moment, just before the finals, and with their top-four position uncertain after two consecutive losses.
Cherry-Evans' role at the Roosters could become even more essential if Walker is unavailable, ahead of his move to the English Super League next year.
The 37-year-old has been a key player for Manly, leading them to eight finals series and winning a premiership in 2011.
If Walker misses time, Cherry-Evans will likely step back into that leadership role, with Hugo Savala expected to shift to the No.6 position.
"We don't know how severe it is yet, so hopefully it's not too bad," said Roosters captain James Tedesco regarding Walker's injury.
"It's tough, hopefully it's not too long; we'll see how it is. But again, I think everyone's disappointed with the performance and the injury as well."
Walker's injury follows an ACL tear that kept him out of the finals two years ago when the Roosters reached the preliminary final.
The Roosters now face a crucial test ahead of their confrontation with South Sydney on Friday night.
Just two weeks ago, the Roosters topped the ladder after a significant win over Penrith, but now sit fourth, at risk of dropping to fifth after losses to the Wests Tigers and the Dolphins.
The Dolphins played exceptionally on Saturday, showing strength in both offense and defense, while the Roosters struggled, particularly in the 20 minutes leading up to halftime.
Coach Trent Robinson expressed disappointment over the team's performance, especially after falling behind early in the second half.
"I can't believe we were down by that much and got jumped at halftime," he said.
"Overall it's really disappointing for us on that performance. We're still creating opportunities but not finishing them."
On a positive note, the Roosters believe hooker Reece Robson did not sustain an injury after exiting late in the game.
Additionally, Daniel Tupou may return to the wing, likely taking Savala's place in the lineup.