Warriors coach Nathan Brown has revealed Matt Lodge's sideline vomit during the NRL match against Gold Coast wasn't the first time the forward had been ill on Saturday.
Lodge, making his return from suspension, was physically ill after coming off the field just 20 minutes into the 20-18 loss at CBUS Super Stadium.
The 26-year-old didn't return and despite initial concerns Lodge had over-heated in the afternoon sun, Brown said it was the escalation of an earlier situation.
"He was really crook and probably he didn't really let on that he was crook," Brown said.
"He vomited before the game and I went and saw him and wondered if he had nerves.
"He said he was crook and then obviously with the heat and he had the shakes and that type of stuff.
"Obviously didn't put him back out there and need to just keep an eye on him.
"Great credit to him playing and getting through what he did but it wasn't safe to put him back."
Saturday's game was also Reece Walsh's return from suspension.
The young fullback showed glimpses of his game-breaking form with a try assist and three tackle busts but Brown said it's clear there's more to come from the 19-year-old.
"Reece has got some real focus areas for himself and over the next sort of four-or-five weeks obviously we'd like to see some growth there but today was game one in obviously very hot conditions," Brown said.
"We'll see where he grows over the period of time, but he's a very talented player and as you can see today when he gets the ball in his hand, the crowd like it, we all like it, his teammates like it - he's very electrifying."
