Warriors to face injury-hit Titans

The Warriors will have to combat State of Origin’s man of the series but another cornerstone of the Gold Coast Titans forward pack looks certain to miss Saturday’s NRL clash at Skilled Park.

Nate Myles’ only issue will be over celebrating Queensland’s seventh successive series win last night and the personal accolade that complemented his man of the match award in game one.

But his New South Wales adversary Greg Bird virtually ruled himself out of another physical encounter – his right eye was puffed up and barely open while he was also diagnosed with a torn pectoral muscle.

‘‘I think I’ve torn a pec again towards the end of the game. I’ll have to wait and see how it pulls up in the next couple of days,’’ he said, although his ugly facial wound could be sufficient to rule him out anyway.

Bird’s absence would be another headache for Titans head coach John Cartwright who has already lost Maroons back rower Ashley Harrison to a toe injury suffered in the second instalment of a closely fought interstate series.

Veteran prop Luke Bailey’s comeback from a long-term rib injury is also doubtful with the former Kangaroos and NSW representative needing to pass a fitness test tomorrow.

Bird was in a sorry state after the Blues agonising 21-20 loss at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, and his physical state mirrored his mental well-being.

‘‘It’s dejecting. We fought hard and fought back but it wasn’t to be.

‘‘It’s disappointing,’’ he said as shattered team-mates sheltered in the dressing room.

Meanwhile, the Titans might also have to take on the Warriors without wing David Mead after the club announced his father had lost a prolonged battle with cancer early yesterday.

Stephen Mead, 63, had been fighting the disease for two years and his passing comes a fortnight after a cousin of Meads also died.

The funeral of Mead’s father will be held in Papua New Guinea later this week so the key back could be missing when a moment’s silence is observed before the match.

Cartwright said the club’s thoughts were with David and his family.

‘‘He’s had a really horrible last couple of weeks, he lost a cousin that was very close to him and now he’s lost his father so it’s been a really tough time,’’ Cartwright said.

There was more encouraging news regarding fullback William Zillman and centre Beau Champion – they are both expected to return from hamstring and ankle injuries after getting through training yesterday.