Hey Warriors fans, get much sleep last night? Don't blame you. This is potentially devastating.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is the type of fullback you base a whole game plan around. He's a unique talent. Unfortunately those players are few and far between. So after the news that his season is over after rupturing his ACL, that game plan lies in ruins.
Here are the top 3 fullback replacement options for the Warriors.
Lolohea was supposed to be the saviour at five-eighth but most of his best performances for the Warriors have been at fullback or in the outside backs. He brings the closest thing to RTS on attack with his pace and footwork and will work as an extra playmaker with the halves.
RTS won't be running any show this season (Getty Images)
Thomas Leuluai can slot into the six jersey with Shaun Johnson, if he's not ready for 80 minutes yet, then Jeff Robson could be in for a reprieve. Jazz Tevaga and Nate Roache are more than capable of battling for the backup hooker spot on the bench – given the Warriors trend for unsettling injury, carrying four big men would be risky.
Would they, should they try to attract a replacement from a rival club?
Could Gerard Beale make the move? (Getty Images)
Brad Abbey would be in prime position at the Warriors right now had he not bolted for the Bulldogs, would he be tempted home? Unlikely. Dragon Kurt Mann, Shark Gerard Beale and Cowboy Matthew Wright are on the selection outer at their respective clubs and worthy first graders, but hard to see any leaving their current set up to fill a spot only for 6 months.
The wildcard, literally, is Kevin Locke. At his best he's talented, but he burnt his bridge on the way out of Mt Smart, he won't be back under this current regime.
The Kiwis on the other hand, will find the solution much easier.
While Tuivasa-Sheck is a walk up start, there are a host of New Zealanders more than capable of playing fullback in next month's ANZAC Test.
You could go for the class of Jordan Kahu after his great start to his Test career last year carried into this season for the Broncos, the out and out speed of Panthers excitement machine Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, or the unfaltering reliability of the Bulldogs' Sam Perrett or Dragon Jason Nightingale. Hell, Lolohea still has a few weeks to play himself into contention.
Peta Hiku the Kiwis #1? (Photosport)
The best choice though is Peta Hiku. He's filled in there before and been among the best Kiwis on the field regularly. He has had the likes of Brett Stewart and Matt Moylan keeping him out of the spots at club level, but if not for RTS, he'd have a mortgage on the Kiwis number one jersey.
It's of little comfort, though.
Both teams need to settle ASAP into life without RTS or it could be RIP for their 2016 plans.
Newshub.
