NRL Finals Hopes Dented by Key Player Injuries

Some of the NRL's biggest names will be missing for the run to the finals after injuries struck in two Friday night thrillers.

Newcastle will likely be without Dylan Lucas and Dylan Brown for the rest of the season after the Newcastle duo suffered ankle and knee injuries in their 23-22 loss to the Roosters which was sealed by a late Daly Cherry-Evans field goal.

Lucas was injured in the first half after twisting awkwardly in a tackle and was later transported to hospital with a broken and dislocated ankle.

The severity of Brown's injury is yet to be confirmed but there are fears the million-dollar halfback has torn his ACL after going down without contact in the second half.

"That's tough at the moment," Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook said.

"It could have been one of one of our best wins tonight with what we had to deal with ... and that's why it's so devastating for myself to sit here now with a side that you can be so close to being so happy and yet we're not.

"The docs, physio is not thinking it's good (on Brown), but cross my fingers and hope we get some good news with the scans.

"(With Lucas) he's dislocation straight away, and so that's back in, which is good. But just got to see how much damage around that's been done as well."

A James Tedesco hattrick was the highlight for the visiting Roosters, who claimed their fifth-straight win to secure their place in the top four but they didn't escape unscathed with veteran winger Daniel Tupou facing further time on the sidelines with a shoulder problem.

Meanwhile, Melbourne captain Harry Grant has suffered a hamstring injury in a 28-26 loss to South Sydney that leaves the depleted Storm's NRL finals aspirations hanging by a thread.

Their hopes of a 16th consecutive finals berth now hinge on five consecutive wins to finish the regular season and even that may not be enough.

"I don't know whether he's torn the hammy or if it's a bad strain but the way he came off, we're hopeful to see him as the year goes on but we might not see him again," said Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy.

"He'll go for a scan some time this weekend and we'll find out how bad it is and what the plan will be.

"I can't remember the last time we had as bad a run as we've had with injuries but having said that there's a few teams. I'm not sure why that is."

Grant is set to miss at least some of the fight for Melbourne's season, joining big names Cameron Munster, Xavier Coates, Eli Katoa, Tui Kamikamica and Will Warbrick on the pine.

The Queensland hooker pulled up sore popping a pass up for Trent Loiero just before halftime in Friday's clash at Stadium Australia.

He limped to the sidelines and threw his headgear to the ground in frustration.

After a torrid week that claimed David Fifita (suspension), Cam Murray (calf) and Tallis Duncan (hamstring), the Rabbitohs lost their own hooker Brandon Smith (calf) to injury.

But the victory was crucial to South Sydney's own finals hopes, which had been thrown into jeopardy with two losses from their previous four games.

A Campbell Graham try in the 76th minute off a fine pass from Ashton Ward proved the difference in an 11-try thriller.