Warriors

Johnson limped off with a serious knee injury midway through the second half only to watch the Warriors concede three late tries in their 34-22 loss to the Panthers.

Initial diagnosis suggested the 26-year-old halfback may have suffered season-ending damage requiring surgery.

But team doctor John Mayhew says the injury isn't as serious as first feared and Johnson is expected to recover from the ruptured ligament in his left knee in six to eight weeks.

"This is a much better outcome than we had expected," said Mayhew.

Luke will start at hooker with Roache out with a hamstring injury, while Albert Vete's broken arm means Sam Lisone gets a spot on the bench.

Solomone Kata returns at centre with David Fusitua moving to the wing and Nicoll-Klokstad dropping to the extended bench.

The Warriors will farewell club legend Manu Vatuvei in Friday night's clash with the Panthers ahead of Vatuvei's exit to the Super League to link up with Salford. Mount Smart Stadium will be temporarily renamed Manu Vatuvei Stadium for the night in honour of the departing winger.

Long-serving Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei has been released from his contract and will link up with Salford in the English Super League.

The iconic try-scorer was originally contracted until the end of the 2018 NRL season but asked the Warriors for an early release in order to join Salford.

British media reported last week that a deal had been done between Vatuvei and Salford, who are owned by businessman and racehorse owner Marwan Koukash, are second on the Super League table.

The result was only the beginning of the New Zealand based team's woes, as they endured a nightmare day in Perth.

Veteran Ryan Hoffman and young forward Albert Vete both face extended stints on the sidelines after copping broken bones.

Vete broke his arm in the first half of the loss, while Hoffman didn't even get on the field.

The 33-year-old's final season at the Warriors will now be heavily shortened after he broke a metatarsal bone in his foot while stretching at the team hotel.

Foran remains questionable for the trip to Perth, still nursing the injury he sustained in the second half of the Warriors' Round 14 clash with the Gold Coast Titans, with coach Stephen Kearney including Hingano on the bench as cover at this stage.

With veteran hooker Issac Luke (shoulder) already a confirmed out, it's likely Hingano will feature in the final 17 as the back-up rake even if Foran does play, and the 20-year-old told NRL.com that he will be ready to start if required.

It took a Shaun Johnson field goal in the 69th minute to give the home side some breathing space.

A dart from dummy-half by skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck six minutes from time and Johnson's conversion virtually sealed victory at Mt Smart Stadium on Friday night.

The result keeps the Warriors - who had started the round in 11th place, one place ahead of the Bulldogs - within touching distance of the top eight.

But it was tempered by injury to hooker Issac Luke, who dislocated his shoulder in the 33rd minute after what seemed like an innocuous tackle.

Hopefully this can be in time for him to race over to New Zealand to join his Canterbury teammates for Friday night's crucial match against the Warriors.

Morris, along with fellow Canterbury NSW representatives Josh Jackson and David Klemmer, was booked into accommodation near Sydney airport following Wednesday night's Origin clash with a view to flying out early on Thursday to join teammates.

However Morris said his fate was in the hands of Bulldogs club doctor Joe Lombardo with the winger needing to get through post-game recovery and assessment to even make his flight.

Curry put up just 14 points in a disappointing game four of the Finals at Quicken Loans Arena – he only scored fewer points in eight games across the regular season and playoffs – but claimed a 34-point double-double as the Warriors clinched a 4-1 series win on Monday.

His response earned high praise from team-mate Durant, who has been impressed by how much he much he is willing to sacrifice for the team.

Golden State fought off a charge from defending champions the Cavaliers on Monday to earn their second NBA championship in three seasons with a 129-120 game-five victory.

High-profile recruit Durant was the difference as the Warriors wrapped up a 4-1 series triumph on home court in Oakland.

Durant – who swapped the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Warriors in search of an elusive title – scored 39 points on 14 of 20 shooting with seven rebounds and five assists.

The 2014 MVP's length and shooting ability was too much for Cleveland's overmatched defence.

The 22-year-old had been included on the bench for tonight's NRL game against the Broncos in Auckland but this morning the Warriors said he wouldn't play after farewelling teammates and staff yesterday.

Lolohea had asked for to be let go and the club had agreed to release him with a 18 months left on his contract.

"Tui and his management recently asked us for permission to talk to other clubs about a possible move and have since requested an early release from the rest of his contract," said Vodafone Warriors recruitment and development manager Tony Iro.