NRL: Injured Maloney may yet tackle Tigers

The Warriors' James Maloney came off second-best in a collision with South Sydney Rabbitohs' Sam Burgess. Photo / Dean Purcell

He hobbled off in agony against Souths but five-eighth James Maloney is still considered an outside chance of facing Wests Tigers on Friday night.

Maloney, who was unable to walk or even stand up straight after coming off second-best in a collision with Sam Burgess, seemed certain to be heading for an extended spell on the sidelines.

However, the nuggety playmaker's injury has been diagnosed as bruising to his back and hip and he is moving freely, prompting coach Ivan Cleary to name the exciting rookie in a largely unchanged side, with Joel Moon included on a five-man bench as cover.

"He's an outside chance of being right so we'll give him every opportunity," Cleary said.

Prop Sam Rapira is the only dropout, with the team's premier go-forward man facing a six-week layoff after dislocating a patella.

Rapira's injury has stretched the club's propping resources to breaking point. Steve Price appears no closer to a return, promising youngster Upu Poching is out after suffering a rib injury playing for the Auckland Vulcans on Saturday and Jacob Lillyman is also unavailable.

But given the initial diagnosis for Rapira was a season-ending ACL rupture, things could be worse.

Jesse Royal has been promoted to the starting line-up alongside Sunday's standout Russell Packer, while Jeremy Latimore has been added to the bench.

Latimore played in seven of the first eight games of the season but was demoted, along with Moon, to the Auckland Vulcans after the round eight home defeat by Canberra.

"We're naturally relieved Sam isn't going to be out for as long as we thought he might be," Cleary said.

"Not having him is obviously a setback because he really has been outstanding for us all season.

"However, we have three props in Russell, Jesse and Jeremy who have had plenty of game time for us. Rusty was great against the Rabbitohs and Jesse has been solid for us every match so far. It's another chance for Lats [Latimore], who has been playing really well for the Vulcans lately," he said.

Manu Vatuvei has not been included in the side, however the key winger has already made one shock return this season, albeit reinjuring his hamstring in the round five victory over the Bulldogs in Sydney.