AAP
Two freak pectoral injuries have Wests Tigers and Penrith scrambling for a Plan B after the Tigers recovered from their NRL opening round stumble to down the Panthers 28-18 at Campbelltown.
Thumped by 32 points in Newcastle last Monday night, the Tigers were far more committed as they ran in five tries to three against a Panthers side which looked a distant cousin to the one that beat Canberra 32-10 in round one.
While coach Ivan Cleary wasn't prepared to throw up excuses, he did have one in the form of an injury to five-eighth Lachlan Coote, who left the field clutching his right shoulder after just 11 minutes, at which point the Panthers led 6-0.
The Tigers lost one in similar fashion with Keith Galloway going straight up the tunnel just minutes after the halftime break.
The best case scenario for both players is six weeks on the sidelines, but scans on Monday will determine the full extent of the injury.
While Galloway's absence left the home side light on for grunt up the middle, it was nothing compared to the effect Coote's withdrawal had on the Panthers.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary was forced to move hooker Kevin Kingston to the unfamiliar five-eighth role, with super-sub James Segeyaro forced to shoulder extra minutes at dummy half.
"It definitely affected our attack today (losing Coote), but we never came here wanting to allow the Tigers to score that many points," Cleary said.
"I always get a bit nervous about early reports but it's (Coote's pectoral muscle) not ruptured so that's a good sign.
"If he can miss surgery that's only six weeks."
Cleary said he would weigh up his options to fill the No.6 jumper, with the likes of Tom Humble, Blake Austin and former Warriors playmaker Isaac John in the frame.
Galloway's injury opened up more time for prop Aaron Woods, who after an off-season hampered by a knee injury found his best form with two tries in a barnstorming display up front.
After Sika Manu's first try of the day on the back of a lucky bounce from a David Simmons kick, the Tigers scored twice before the break via halves Benji Marshall and Jacob Miller.
They could have had more only for a flamboyant Marshall flick to find the ground instead of Marika Koroibete's hands.
Woods sandwiched his double around an acrobatic Simmons effort in the corner, while Koroibete was the right man at the right time to seal the deal when he pounced on a Marshall grubber 13 minutes from time.
"We're not kidding ourselves," skipper Robbie Farah said of the win.
"They lost Lachlan Coote in the first ten minutes, Kingston had to go to five-eighth which I don't think he's ever played, Segeyaro had to play the rest of the game.
"They weren't at their best today and they still came hard at us at the end.
"There's still a fair amount of work for us to do."
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