The Roosters celebrated Sam Walker's long-awaited return from injury with a victory at Allianz Stadium on Saturday that sets the stage for a shootout against rivals South Sydney in round 27.
The winner is likely to progress to the finals and the loser is set to miss the top eight.
But replacement fullback Manu and key prop Waerea-Hagreaves look strong chances to miss the game through injury and suspension, respectively.
Manu hurt his hamstring tapping a kick dead midway through the first half and played no further part in the game.
The Tricolours will hope captain James Tedesco can return from concussion to reclaim the fullback jersey, lest Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii play out of position in the side's most important game of they year.
Waerea-Hargreaves went to the sin bin for a late, high hit on Tigers hooker Api Koroisau as he kicked the ball with 16 minutes to play.
When a fracas broke out, Waerea-Hargreaves appeared to headbutt rival prop Stefano Utoikamanu.Â
Dylan Napa, Angus Crichton or Nathan Brown could to come into the side if Waerea-Hargreaves is banned for his hit or the resulting headbutt.
Radley and Smith, both regular first-graders, also left the field late for head injury assessments.
The loss moves the Tigers closer to their second consecutive wooden spoon.
To avoid the dubious honour from here, Wests would need to convincingly beat Manly next week and hope St George Illawarra lose big to Newcastle.
Walker was important early in his first NRL game since recovering from the knee injury suffered just after he was dropped in mid-April.
The halfback dummied left and skipped inside before bouncing free of Koroisau and Fonua Pole for the Roosters' first try. He then forced two dropouts that kept the pressure on the Tigers late in the half.
Walker had fewer chances to make his mark in the second half after collecting Isaiah Papali'i's knee to his head and leaving for a head injury assessment with 25 minutes to play.
He was able to return so will not automatically miss the match against Souths.
Only a Daniel Tupou try scored in the final 90 seconds of the half separated the sides at the break.
But after it, Terrell May and Suaalii ran through some poor goal-line defence for tries that had the Roosters closing in on their fifth win from six games.
