IT’S good to talk – the cheesy BT slogan may be a blast from the past but it has served Warriors well this week.

Just how do you deal with the shock, horror and ongoing worry that lingers when such an injury befalls one of your own?

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Business as usual simply isn’t possible. Phones are grasped and refreshed at a rate of knots and that feeling in the pits of stomachs scarcely subsides.

Yet the harsh reality of professional sport is that life has to go on with obligations to fulfil and matches to play.

The world wants to know what is happening and the club is inevitably under the spotlight more than ever at a time when everyone would prefer to shut the curtains and turn out the lights.

It is to Warriors’ credit, then, that the response in public and behind the scenes has been open, warm and sincere.

Step forward Isaac Miller and Jono Kitto, not exactly regulars at press conferences, to reflect the feeling behind the scenes at Sixways.

“As a squad we were horrified to see an injury like that to one of our mates, all our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family,” said Miller.

“All of the boys are massively concerned and just want to see his condition improve.

“The boys are there for each other and it is important to say that Fats is a such a good man around the squad as well, he’s always smiling and having a laugh."

Kitto continued: “It is toughest for Fats and his family. It is devastating and something you never expect to happen so close to home in a rugby environment.

“You feel a bit redundant in terms of how you can help while he is in intensive care but the people there are doing the best job to get him back up and running.

“We are all feeling for him and thinking about him. We just want him to recover as best he can.”

While both were quick to point out that no one’s focus had shifted from Fatialofa, the spectre of Saturday’s events leave an indelible mark on minds which have to be dealt with.

“We have had discussions about it because we are devastated about his situation, it is so much bigger than the game of rugby,” said Kitto.

“We have had conversations as a group and with people who are here for that reason if we need it because it does an effect.

“I guess it is down to every individual and all of us as a collective to make sure we look after ourselves on that side so we can do the job on Saturday and not allow emotions to take too much control of us, and that we are voicing them when they appear.

“They naturally will for most guys because Michael is an integral part of this club, people love him and he’s a great man.

“He is a really laid-back bloke and that’s great for the environment because he continually puts things into perspective just by how relaxed he is in moments where other guys might be a bit wound up.

“We are feeling for him, we miss him and at the end of the day, no matter how much that affects each and every one of us we just have to make sure we have the appropriate conversations.”

Miller interjected: “Also, we know he is in the best possible hands and that sort of puts us at ease, that they’re looking after him and doing everything possible to get him better.

“We’re just looking forward to hearing an update that he’s on the mend.”

At a time when it would be easy to bring up the drawbridge, Warriors have tackled things head on.

Club doctor Nick Tait was brought in to address the squad and remains on standby to answer questions as part of considering the welfare of the players that must soldier on.

“It is all you can do,” said Kitto when asked how much talking had helped.

“The way the club has dealt with it has been incredibly helpful, we have people in place to make sure conversations happen when they need to and that’s a great thing to do.

“The players are there to support one another in terms of what any individual might need so people feel there is outlet for anything they might be feeling.

“It might be tough for us but it is nothing in comparison to what Michael and his family are going through and that’s our main focus.

“This situation reminds you and put things in perspective, his life and wellbeing is far more important than our ability to kick well on a Monday at training.

“While we are still trying to do those things as best we can, it is Michael and his wellbeing that is of utmost importance and our thoughts and prayers got out to him.”

The inevitable question is how much doubt such an incident places in the minds of those who see and feel it up close and personal.

The answer is simple – show the courage that Fatialofa is known for and play for him when Warriors host Enisei-STM in the European Challenge Cup on Saturday (3pm).

“I don’t think you can worry about things like that, you can’t let it creep into your game,” said Miller.

“We just have to go out this weekend and play for Michael. He wouldn’t want us to go out there with any doubt in our minds, it is just a case of going out there and putting in a performance for him.”

Kitto continued: “We just want to go out there and show he matters to us, that we’re thinking about him at the same time as representing the club he was last week, trying to put his best foot forward for the team and putting his body on the line.

“Sadly, that’s resulted in what he’s dealing with but he wouldn’t want us to approach this week any differently, I’m sure.

“It puts things in perspective that we are playing a game that has a level of contact where horrendous things can happen at times, like in lots of sports and occupations around the world.

“At the same time it is a sport where we try to go and have fun and that’s what we will try to do, enjoy ourselves, put our best foot forward and keep Michael in our thoughts as we do that, representing him and the club as best we can.”

In a way this match becomes one of the toughest matches in Warriors history – but it is one they will tackle with gusto.