NRL: Injury-hit Warriors make do and mend

Evarn Tuimavave, has a serious back injury suffered late in pre-season. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors are not about to rush into the player market seeking replacements for those on their ever-increasing injury list.

The 99-game prop, Evarn Tuimavave, has a serious back injury suffered late in pre-season.

A second MRI scan has shown no improvement in his cervical disc problem.

The medics want to wait another four weeks and hope the swelling drops and there are signs of other improvement, otherwise he is headed for surgery which could curtail his season.

Gone from the top-25 announced before the season start are secondrower/centre Sonny Fai, swept out to sea at Bethells Beach in West Auckland, and five-eighth Michael Witt, who has switched to Otago rugby.

Fai would have replaced Brent Tate, whose knee injury may keep him out for the rest of 2009.

But now Patrick Ah Van gets his chance and the Warriors are hoping he secures that spot as Lance Hohaia did the fullback's position when Wade McKinnon was ruled out with a knee injury for much of 2008, said chief executive Wayne Scurrah.

They cannot play Epalahame Lauaki while he awaits a work visa from England so he can switch to Hull, and nor does his wage come off their salary cap until he does.

There had been speculation they would sign Greg Eastwood then Michael Crocker but Scurrah said they were watching the market but had not made any offers.

They were banking on Hohaia, Ben Matulino and Manu Vatuvei returning from injury and, hopefully, Steve Price too within one or two weeks and would not buy in the meantime, he said.