St George Illawarra have turned to youngster Jai Field to answer their halves crisis, after Corey Norman suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone in their NRL loss to Parramatta.
Norman came off midway through the second half of their 32-18 loss on Sunday, after a heavy collision with Eels winger Maika Sivo.
Star forward Tyson Frizell played just 20 minutes, before he also succumbed to an eye issue, but his injury isn't considered serious.
Frizell returned, after copping a poke in the eye from a teammate, only to last another 10 minutes and then bow out of the game for good.
"He obviously got a boot in the eye or a finger in the eye," coach Paul McGregor said.
"There's a bit of blurred vision and a bit of a cut - we'll wait and see."
The Norman injury is a major concern, adding to a casualty ward that already includes skipper and playmaker Gareth Widdop.
A fractured cheekbone may need a six-week recovery, which means a likely call-up for the 21-year-old Field, who has played just six NRL games.
It is a hammer blow for a Dragons side that is now tentatively in eighth spot.
"With Gareth out, Jack [de Belin] not available and Korbin [Sims] out, and now Tyson and Normy... yeah, it's not great," McGregor said.
Asked about a likely halves combination to face the Warriors next week, McGregor said: "I haven't given it any thought, I'm sorry.
"Jai's been our 18th man in the last 4-5 weeks, so he's available. He's playing some good footy in reserve grade.
"More than likely, young Jai Field."
AAP
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