Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter admitted he is reluctant to rush teenage half-back sensation Luke Brooks into the top grade too soon despite the club's horrific injury toll.
Stand-in half-back Tim Moltzen won't play again this season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the 20-10 loss to Brisbane at Campbelltown on Saturday night.
Centres Chris Lawrence (hamstring) and Blake Ayshford (ankle ligament damage) will both have scans on Monday and are also facing extended stints on the sidelines after suffering injuries in the Broncos clash.
But finding a replacement half-back is the biggest challenge facing the decimated Tigers, who are missing a total of 10 first graders including half-back Braith Anasta (groin) and five-eighth Benji Marshall (toe).
Anasta and Marshall are both expected to miss at least two more matches, **while the out-of-favour Jacob Miller reportedly struggled in a NSW Cup outing on Saturday and looks unlikely to earn a recall.**
That leaves the option of shifting skipper Robbie Farah to half-back and promoting Masada Iosefa to hooker.
Alternatively, Potter could turn to the 18-year Brooks, who has been touted as a future Test player but has just six NYC games under his belt.
"I'd have to talk to (NYC coach) Todd (Payten) a bit more," Potter said when asked if he will consider blooding Brooks against the Bulldogs next Friday.
"Luke's had some little assignments to complete in the games previous to this.
"He's progressing OK, I'm not sure if he's ready for that jump yet but he'd probably grab it with open arms and do his best and probably do an OK job.
"I want to get him physically ready otherwise he's going to be a real target just with that step up.
"But he's certainly got some real good skill, there's no doubting that."
Potter added when quizzed on Miller's chances of a recall: "He's only had one game and he played in Auckland today. I'm going to have a look at that vision and see how he's gone there.
"I'll scratch around on Monday. Robbie can play seven as well as nine."
Potter praised his players' bravery despite dropping their fourth straight game to remain at the wrong end of the ladder in 13th spot.
"We're disappointed we didn't get the result," Potter said.
"I don't want to focus on the injuries as much as our performance. I thought the players, although they came up with some poor stuff, there was some really brave stuff too."
Broncos skipper Sam Thaiday claimed his side will have to improve significantly to match South Sydney next Friday night.
"It was kind of a weird game for us tonight, we did start very well and then I don't know what happened at the start of that second half but we forgot how to play footy again," Thaiday said.
"It was a tough, weird win but we'll take the two points and go back to Brisbane and dissect that game and we've got another job to do next Friday night."
Stand-in half-back Tim Moltzen won't play again this season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the 20-10 loss to Brisbane at Campbelltown on Saturday night.
Centres Chris Lawrence (hamstring) and Blake Ayshford (ankle ligament damage) will both have scans on Monday and are also facing extended stints on the sidelines after suffering injuries in the Broncos clash.
But finding a replacement half-back is the biggest challenge facing the decimated Tigers, who are missing a total of 10 first graders including half-back Braith Anasta (groin) and five-eighth Benji Marshall (toe).
Anasta and Marshall are both expected to miss at least two more matches, **while the out-of-favour Jacob Miller reportedly struggled in a NSW Cup outing on Saturday and looks unlikely to earn a recall.**
That leaves the option of shifting skipper Robbie Farah to half-back and promoting Masada Iosefa to hooker.
Alternatively, Potter could turn to the 18-year Brooks, who has been touted as a future Test player but has just six NYC games under his belt.
"I'd have to talk to (NYC coach) Todd (Payten) a bit more," Potter said when asked if he will consider blooding Brooks against the Bulldogs next Friday.
"Luke's had some little assignments to complete in the games previous to this.
"He's progressing OK, I'm not sure if he's ready for that jump yet but he'd probably grab it with open arms and do his best and probably do an OK job.
"I want to get him physically ready otherwise he's going to be a real target just with that step up.
"But he's certainly got some real good skill, there's no doubting that."
Potter added when quizzed on Miller's chances of a recall: "He's only had one game and he played in Auckland today. I'm going to have a look at that vision and see how he's gone there.
"I'll scratch around on Monday. Robbie can play seven as well as nine."
Potter praised his players' bravery despite dropping their fourth straight game to remain at the wrong end of the ladder in 13th spot.
"We're disappointed we didn't get the result," Potter said.
"I don't want to focus on the injuries as much as our performance. I thought the players, although they came up with some poor stuff, there was some really brave stuff too."
Broncos skipper Sam Thaiday claimed his side will have to improve significantly to match South Sydney next Friday night.
"It was kind of a weird game for us tonight, we did start very well and then I don't know what happened at the start of that second half but we forgot how to play footy again," Thaiday said.
"It was a tough, weird win but we'll take the two points and go back to Brisbane and dissect that game and we've got another job to do next Friday night."
