The Roosters’ premiership aspirations may have received a huge mauling.
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Not only did the previously unbeaten Kootingal-Moonbi slump to their first loss of the season when comprehensively beaten 46-22 by an overpowering Bears pack at Jack Woolaston Oval on Sunday, but key Roosters personnel may have also suffered serious injuries that could have major repercussions.
The Roosters were only into their first set of six when hard-working prop Sam Molyneuax suffered a right eye-cheek injury in a head clash.
He was replaced under the HIA (head injury assessment) rule and didn’t return.
Effervescent prop Phil Beaton then came off with a left shoulder injury, while Kootingal-Moonbi halfback and captain Sam Taylor went down with a right knee injury late in the match and was carried off by trainers.
The outlook is glum for Roosters coach Geoff Sharpe.
“Sam and Phil both heard cracks,” Sharpe said after the game.
He said both players will have X-rays and scans to determine the seriousness of their injuries.
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“Sam [Molyneuax] had a head clash. Hopefully he doesn’t have a break in his cheekbone,” Sharpe said.
“Hopefully they will all be right, otherwise we’ve got to find some troops from somewhere.”
All three players have been in great form, with Taylor leading the Group 4 pointscoring table (110).
Their loss would punch a huge hole in the Roosters’ lineup, after the Bears punched huge holes through their defences and joined them at the top of the table.
There are a couple of positives for the Roosters, though.
They still remain on top of the table, courtesy of their better for-and-against average.
“We did put four tries on them,” Sharpe said. “Our defence has got to be better and we’ve got to go a lot harder.”
