The Roosters will be sweating on the state of skipper Jake Friend after he was knocked out in a sickening head clash late in the Tricolours' 46-4 win over manly.
Friend was handed the captaincy for the Chooks' 2021 season opener in lieu of Boyd Cordner who is battling his own issues after a tricky year with concussion.
But it appears the club's trouble with head-knocks is not yet behind them after Friend went down hard when he clashed awkwardly with Manly's Andrew Davey late in the game.
The skipper was left flat on his back on the turf of the SCG, appearing to spasm as teammates rushed to his aid.
"Trouble for Jake Friend," Brisbane Broncos great Corey Parker said on Fox League's coverage.
"That is heavy contact. It was an accidental head clash.
"He plays the game in the middle of the field, he's so tough, so tenacious."
He was tended to by trainers for some time before thankfully being able to walk off with the help of Roosters support staff.
He was sent for HIA and played no further part in the season-opening win.
Coach Trent Robinson will also nervously await the verdict of the Match Review Committee after enforcer Jarred Waerea-Hargreaves was cited for appearing to elbow Curtis Sirronen.
JWH appeared to take umbrage with being held down as he attempted to play the ball, lashing out at the Manly star before being promptly placed on report.
Despite the hiccups it was a strong first showing from the Roosters in 2021 with superstar fullback James Tedesco bagging a hat-trick.
Brett Morris and Sitli Tupounou also backed up with doubles of their own enroute to the monster win in Sydney.
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