Raiders co-captain Josh Hodgson is expected to shake off a hip injury in time for next weekend's home clash with Parramatta, despite leaving the field in Friday night's 30-10 loss to ladder-leading Penrith.
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The scheming hooker was taken from the field 14 minutes from full time as a precautionary measure by Canberra coaching staff, who have helped nurse the Englishman through similar hip soreness in the past.
He won't require a scan on the injury, and Raiders staff are hopeful the 31-year-old will be right to resume training early this week.
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will also be closely monitored this week after leaving the field midway through the first half in a bruising contest against Penrith.
Nicoll-Klokstad was initially clocked in a heavy tackle by Isaah Yeo, but stayed on the field for another eight minutes during which time he copped a high shot from Panthers hard man Viliame Kikau.
The 25-year-old then failed his mandatory HIA and was unable to return.
Raiders staff assessed a shaken Nicoll-Klokstad on field after the initial Yeo hit, and deemed him fit to play on.
An NRL official then reviewed footage of the incident with the Raiders medical team, and ultimately decided Nicoll-Klokstad should leave the field.
That decision is believed to have been made just moments before the high shot from Kikau.
Losing Nicoll-Klokstad was a major turning point in the contest, which the Raiders were leading 6-0 at the foot of the mountains before the fullback left the field.
Just moments earlier co-captain Jarrod Croker fluffed an attempted grounding of the football which would've likely extended the lead to 12-0.
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Canberra coach Ricky Stuart was forced to hastily rearrange his backline, deploying Jordan Rapana to fullback, pushing Croker out to the left wing and utilising Elliott Whitehead at centre.
The reshuffle seemed to spark the home side into action, and within the space of 15 minutes the Panthers surged to an 18-6 lead.
"We were beaten by a better football team," Stuart said.
"It [losing Nicoll-Klokstad] shouldn't be an excuse.
"I'm happy with Elliott in the centres, that's what happens when you lose an outside back. Rapa's played fullback before, he did a good job there tonight I thought he tried really hard."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
