NRL 2021: Sydney Roosters face crisis, with half Luke Keary facing season-ending knee injury

Sydney Roosters face an early injury crisis, after half Luke Keary left the field against South Sydney Rabbitohs with a suspected season-ending knee injury.

Trailling 24-10 in their NRL third-round clash, the Roosters were already reeling, with injuries to halves partner Lachlan Lam and prop Lindsay Collins, but Keary's feared ACL rupture may prove the most costly to their chances of a third championship in four years.

Chasing a chip kick, Keary appeared to stumble without contact, with his knee giving out underneath him. His departure became the major talking point of a eventual 26-16 drubbing from the crosstown archrivals.

"It's really tough, but what do you do?" muses coach Trent Robinson. "Let's go, let's find a way... you find a way.

"You get disappointed for five minutes and then you get excited for what's next. It's the acceleration of some other guys in our team to go and take opportunities.

"It's up to us to find a way. It's round three."

More significantly for NZ Warriors fans, the displaced Auckland side are next up on the reeling Roosters itinerary on Easter Sunday.

As well as their injury woes, the Sydneysiders may face judiciary issues, with Kiwis hardman Jared Waerea-Hargreaves sweating on a high tackle on Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell and fellow front rower Daniel Suluka-Fifita sin-binned for a senseless punch to the back of Jai Arrow's head in a tackle.

Elsewhere, St George Illawarra Dragons continued to heap misery on Manly Sea Eagles, inflicting a 38-12 pounding to extend the visitors' winless start to the season.

Join us at 5pm Saturday for live updates of the Warriors v Canberra NRL clash