Syndesmosis sidelines Tupou as Roosters deal with heavy injury toll

Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary says the Roosters will find a way to cope with a mounting injury toll after a heartbreaking 27-25 extra time loss to the Storm where winger Daniel Tupou limped off late on.

The Roosters on Friday confirmed Tupou would be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a syndesmosis injury.

Boyd Cordner, Lindsay Collins and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves failed HIAs in the thrilling loss and will be monitored over the next few days in the lead-up to next Thursday's trip to Townsville to face the Cowboys.

Victor Radley and Sam Verills are out for the season with ACL injuries but Keary said it the club could overcome these hurdles.

"We have dealt with this the last few years where we have had people out all the time," Keary said.

"Last year we got out full squad for the first time on grand final day. To lose the two boys last week with ACLs was devastating for them but you can't dwell on it."

Without lock Radley on board Channel Nine commentator Andrew Johns said the Roosters would need to adapt without what is essentially a third playmaker. Keary said the Roosters would find a way to cope.

"When Issac Liu comes back he will probably slot in that role and he is a good ball player very similar to Rads. Nat Butcher is younger but he can slot into that role too," he said.

"I don't think it will change too much. Obviously [Radley] is a quality player and you can see what he does with the ball in his hands and defensively. You can't replace them but we have some guys who can do a good job."

The Roosters led 22-12 with nine minutes remaining. The Storm scored two converted tries, Kyle Flanagan landed a penalty and Keary and Ryan Papenhuyzen exchanged field goals to level at 25-all before Cameron Smith kicked a golden point penalty.

The Roosters made 19 errors in the match, which ultimately cost them.

"It was such a great game," Robinson said.

"I think there were faults on both sides. Their first two tries came off our errors and then we fought well to get to 22-12. Then we got back even [at 24-all], then kicked the field goal and conceded a field goal.

"It was a great contest but too many errors on our part. I am really proud of them and really disappointed that we came up with those [errors] enough to open the door for them to win." 

Keary landed an field goal with 40 seconds left on the clock to give his side a 25-24 lead but said he wasn't counting his chickens.

"We've had so many close games with them so I knew it wasn't over. I knew they were going to kick to Suli [Vunivalu] on that short kick-off," Keary said.

That is what happened with Papenhuyzen landing a field goal with five second remaining.

"We killed ourselves with errors but defensively we felt pretty comfortable," Keary said.

"The Jahrome Hughes [try] was uncharacteristic for us but we made ourselves defend for long periods of time in the second half through errors."