Penrith coach Ivan Cleary likened the wounded Panthers' dressing room to a "war zone" after injuries to three players compounded a 30-12 loss to Canberra in Wagga Wagga.
Powerful back-rower Viliame Kikau (ankle/knee), tough edge forward Isaah Yeo (shoulder) and athletic back Malakai Watene-Zelezniak (ribs) all went down following a horror afternoon at McDonalds Park.
Kikau, Penrith's most destructive player, was only just hitting his straps after missing the first three games with an MCL issue.
The Raiders did not emerge unscathed either, with boom English import John Bateman copping a fractured eye socket that could keep him sidelined for up to 10 weeks in the worst case scenario.
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Cleary wasn't able to confirm the severity of the injuries to his troops but admitted the initial signs aren't promising.
"They're not looking all that great. I really can't elaborate that much but Vili's in a [moon] boot on crutches, 'Yeoy' feels like his shoulder is dislocated.
"Mal's looking – well, you saw him out there, he's in a bit of discomfort.
"It's a bit of a war zone in there right now. Battered bodies and disappointed boys."
Penrith may be missing a further two men from their regular team next weekend versus Wests Tigers, with half James Maloney and lock Liam Martin placed on report for a dangerous throw.
Cleary didn't believe there was any malice in the incident which resulted in Raiders hooker Josh Hodgson landing on his head.
"I didn't really see it closely ... He was getting driven sideways by a few guys and he just kind of ended up in an awkward position," Cleary said.
"That's the way I saw it. It certainly was a pick up and [dump], I didn't think."
Maloney has another potential concern with the Match Review Committee over a borderline chicken wing tackle on Bateman that went unpunished in the opening stanza.
Despite now slipping to 15th place with only two wins in 2019, Cleary remained upbeat ahead of the challenges to come.
No team has ever won the premiership after starting the season 2-6.
But Clearly believes the tribulations facing Penrith will build strong character throughout their ranks.
And he has faith in whoever pulls on the Panthers jumper.
"We'll have 17. We'll have 17 guys and we'll just get back on the horse," he said.
"That's how you've got to look at it. Injuries come and go. It's going to give someone else an opportunity and as a team we're being pretty tested right now.
"So we'll see what we're made of."