Halfback Adam Reynolds said there were serious concerns surrounding Sutton. "He has gone to [hospital] to get the eye checked out," Reynolds said. "We were talking about it before the game how excited we were to get back out there. For him to go out pretty early in the match it is pretty disappointing. I thought the boys lifted for him and we got the job done."

Coach Michael Maguire said the injury was "not looking great". The Rabbitohs coach welcomed back Sutton and Reynolds as he looked to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat for the first time.

Blurred vision: Rabbitohs back-rower John Sutton Rabbitohs receives attention for an eye injury. Credit:Mark Kolbe

Just days after he announced his defection to the Warriors at season's end, Issac Luke was dropped to the interchange bench in favour of Cameron McInnes.

Maguire said there were certain "standards in our club and how we perform".