Xavier Coates appears to be a serious doubt for the State of Origin decider after limping off the field late in the Storm's gritty 16-6 victory over the Raiders in Melbourne.
The Maroons winger cut a desperate sight as he was helped from the field.
Coates had stretched to score a try in the second half of the contest but after missing the ball, remained on the ground, mouthing "hammy" to his teammates before beginning the slow limp around the edge of the field.
"I don't think it's great," Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.
"Until they get a scan I won't know the exact extent of the injury, but I don't think it's too good.
"I wouldn't think that he'd be available [for Origin], but I don't think the medical staff make that prediction until they've seen the scan.
"He's upset and I think we can all understand why."
It was reported that Coates has injured that same hamstring twice already this season, in the pre-season and in round eight's match against the Rabbitohs, after which he missed two weeks.
Maroons coach Billy Slater will now face a selection headache for the decider at Lang Park, having been comprehensively thrashed by the Blues at the MCG.
Dane Gagai was the Maroons' 18th man for Game II, with other options including Selwyn Cobbo and Murray Taulagi.
The 23-year-old looked distraught as he left the field, and now faces a race against time to be fit in time for the Brisbane decider on July 17.
On the pitch, the Storm had to work hard to complete victory against a dogged Raiders side in tough conditions.
Only one try was scored — by Josh King in the 37th minute — during a dour first half in which the Storm had 60 per cent possession but crafted few opportunities.
Kaeo Weekes scored a length of the field try to level the scores just after half-time, but within 10 minutes the Storm had scored two more tries through Shawn Blore and Jack Howarth.
"We can't just keep turning over that amount of football," Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said.
"Just made it too hard for ourselves."
He also said the Raiders were "just on the wrong side of the guessing game" when it comes to six again calls.
Earlier, the Warriors held off a Broncos comeback to record a 32-16 victory at a sold out Mount Smart stadium.
The Knights then won a shootout against the Eels 34-26 in front of 17,424 fans at Hunter stadium.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key events
- Storm concerned Coates has a major hamstring injury
- Storm claim gritty victory over Canberra
- 73' Xavier Coates limps off
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Live updates
Pinned
Live updates: Storm vs Raiders
By Simon Smale
Raiders 'made it too hard for themselves'
By Simon Smale
"We can't just keep turning over that amount of football," Ricky Stuart said.
"Just made it too hard for ourselves.
"You don't want to keep handing possession over in our end of the field, it was just set after set."
Stuart bemoans how the Raiders were on the wrong side of a number of six-again calls.
"We were just on the wrong side of the guessing game again," he said.
"Those six-agains, they just guess."
Key Event
Storm concerned Coates has a major hamstring injury
By Simon Smale
Fox Sports are reporting that Xavier Coates has a hamstring injury - the same one that he injured in round eight.
He missed two games as a result of that.
He actually injured that right hammy during pre-season too.
Fox are reporting that the Storm are concerned that it is a major injury.
I'd be stunned if that's not the game of the round
Thanks for a day of blogging Simon, the last game was a tough slog in tough conditions but I reckon the Eels - Knights game was the pick in the entertainment stakes.
- Mike
It was so tremendously entertaining.
But there's still so much footy to come with weekend, with another three games tomorrow.
We'll stick around for the coaches press conferences to see if there is an update on Xavier Coates, but thanks for joining us.
Key Event
Storm claim gritty victory over Canberra
By Simon Smale
The Melbourne Storm eked out victory over a stubborn Canberra Raiders side, but lost Xavier Coates to what appeared to be a hamstring injury late on.
Josh King scored the only try of a dire, error-strewn first half.
Kaeo Weekes hit back for the Raiders with a 90-metre length of the field score to level things up.
Shawn Blore and Jack Howarth both crossed for the Storm to make sure of the victory early in the second half, with neither side able to convert their chances in the second period.
75' Jordan Rapana is down
By Simon Smale
Oh that's not great, Jordan Rapana was caught by the elbow of a Storm player.
That's the Raiders's third player to be taken off with a concussion/head injury this game.
Key Event
73' Xavier Coates limps off
By Simon Smale
Oh no, that's not great news for the Storm, or for Queensland.
Xavier Coates mouthed "hammy" as he laid on the floor in the in goal.
Oh this could be a disaster.
He's limping down into the sheds with the support of two Storm staff members. Blimey.
What a shocker for the Maroons.
73' Xavier Coates gets a score!
By Simon Smale
Lovely break and then kick from TyranWishart, with Xavier Coates dotting down.
Or does he?
No. He is short!
68' Ata Mariota off for an HIA
By Simon Smale
He didn't look great after attempting to make a tackle, his head connecting with the hip of the ball carrier.
He'll go off for an HIA.
Incidentally, Jordan Martin failed his HIA so won't be back today.
64' Penalty Storm
By Simon Smale
Joseph Tapine is pinged for working the face of the Storm player on the ground.
It's a grubby look however it turns out, so I don't think Tapine has much to complain about.
The Storm are going to go for two.
AND HE'S MISSED IT!
Oh that's a shocker.
62' Will Warbrick gets a try! Or does he?
By Simon Smale
And it comes from a Raiders error.
Rapana bent down to try and pick up a little grubber into the in goal, misses it, and Warbrick just touches the ball down.
But hang on - is there a knock on?
Yes there is!
No try!
59' Tyran Wishart on report
By Simon Smale
Tyran Wishart laid a shot on without wrapping the attacker, or even attempting to.
The Raiders get a penalty and good field position.
58' aaaaand Jordan Martin goes off again
By Simon Smale
Shame for the youngster.
He's been ordered off by the independent doctor after getting caught by the hip of Christian Welch.
he did not look good so that's a good decision I think.
Key Event
52' Jack Howarth scores his first career try!
By Simon Smale
It's simple for the Storm now.
A short ball from Hughes, sending Howarth crashing into the Raiders line and then the youngster uses his strength to twist over the line.
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He's getting a bit of a hamstring workout on the sidelines now as the kick is being lined up by Wishart, who misses.
It's 16-6.
50' Jordan Martin comes on to make his Raiders debut
By Simon Smale
The 24-year-old has come through the Raiders development system.
The Casino-born forward was in the NSW Cup team last year before doing his ACL which ended his year prematurely.
Key Event
47' Shawn Blore scores!
By Simon Smale
Bronson Garlick dummies right, steps left and then plays Blore in to crash over and score from close range.
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Craig Bellamy has the finger out in the coaches box, pointing and gesturing angrily at something.
But he will be pleased to have seen his team respond to conceding that early try in this second period.
The kick is great from Tyran Wishart, making the score 12-6.
45' Albert Hopoate on report
By Simon Smale
JackHowarthfumbled the ball - but got slammed in the head by the shoulder of Hopoate so it goes from the knock on Melbourne to a Melbourne penalty.
Key Event
42' Kaeo Weekes scores a length of the field try!
By Simon Smale
He's not been great at fullback so far today, but he does brilliantly here.
The ball was chipped to him by Tryan Wishart on his own 10, accelerated through two would-be tacklers before burning past Sualauvi Fa'alogo.
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What a start for the Raiders.
41' Elliot Whitehead is on report
By Simon Smale
He's been placed on report for the tackle before half time onShawnBlorethat has been deemed a hip drop.
You've got that right, Lucille
By Simon Smale
A dour struggle so far
- Lucille
But you know what, the darkness offers contrast to the light, the dull to the brilliant.
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