Will Chambers is likely to miss the whole Queensland State of Origin campaign, and a large chunk of the NRL season after sustaining a foot injury during the Storm’s Monday night loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs.
Chambers was injured early in the first half of Melbourne’s six-point loss, but played out the game thinking it wasn’t serious.
After going for scans on Tuesday morning, the injury was revealed to be a fracture, and Chambers will be in for surgery on Wednesday afternoon.
Chambers was named in the side to take on the Wests Tigers next weekend, but obviously will not be taking part in that match now. The Storm have said a replacement would be chosen an hour before kickoff on Sunday afternoon.
Melbourne Storm director of football Frank Ponissi said that Chambers only realised he had a problem when the foot swelled overnight after the game.
“We are extremely disappointed to lose Will, he’s an important part of our team and has been a consistent part of our line-up for the last three seasons resulting in well-deserved selection in the Queensland State of Origin and Australian Kangaroos sides,” Ponissi said.
“While we’ve suffered some injuries to our outside back stocks in the early part of the season, it provides us another chance to give an opportunity to some of our younger players who have shown consistent form with our feeder teams.”
The Maroons will also have to find a replacement, with Chambers being a fixture in their side over the last few series.
Mojo
Guest
I'm a blues supporter. Big loss but you QLD have a truck load of talented centres and wingers who can fill your spot. You can put Inglis or Boyd in at full back and they'll both handle it, it's scary the depth you guys have. NSW have great depth in the backs also but Daley is too afraid to select guys with "no big game experience"... Pretty sure Hayne and Billy Slater scored some pretty special tries in their debut series with lack of big game experience. Anyway, it's on the coaches shoulders, they be hailed a hero or a zero either way. Glad I'm not the coach. See you in Sydney
DannyB
Guest
I agree. That would be my team. Keep a winning formula.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Napa and Milford can't play this year as they are 'suspended' for disobeying at camp. I'd also have Papalli in there who's killing it for Raiders at the moment. 1) Inglis 2) Oates 3) Boyd 4) O'Neil 5) Feldt/Gagai 6) Thurston 7) Cooper 8) Scott 9) Smith 10) Myles 11) Thaiday 12) Guerra 13) Parker 14) Morgan 15) Gillett 16) McGuire 17) Papallii 18) Shillington who is playing pretty good footy at the moment....maybe should even displace Myles but its likely they'll play the loyalty card. This keeps the spine intact from game 2/3 last year, adds the Broncos combo to the left and the Cowboys combo + O'Neil has played with the Storms Cam and Coops to the right so there is at least some familiarity between those players. Especially important in the outside backs to know the speed, positioning of your wings for the quick pass. Also Oates has great in goal and aerial defence and has a great return.
Griffo
Guest
Don't forget Dane Nielsen. Queensland wins two thirds of the time when he plays centre.
Joel
Guest
1.Morgan (smashed it for cows in 2014) 2.Boyed 3.Inglis 4.Gagai/O'Neil 5.Feldt 6.Thurston 7.Coops 8.Scott 9.Smith 10.Myles 11.Thaiday 12.Guerra 13.Parker 14.Milford 15.Gillet 16.McGuire 17.Nappa
Squidward
Roar Rookie
One more injury and "Valentine Holmes and Cameron Munster have been shamed enough and have learnt their lesson from breaking curfew...."
NQ Cowboy
Guest
Gagai played last year and doesn't need to be blooded. He will play centres most likely with Inglis(now that Chambers is out) and Boyd at fullback. Feldt on the right wing with Oates on the left.
DannyB
Guest
With Ben Barba in the front-row
Adsa
Guest
I think Maroon selectors as mentioned in the article will show a huge leap of faith with Justin O'Neil. And just like other Maroon selections Steve Bell, Josh Hannay and Adam Mogg, it will be scoffed at by The Blues and shown to be a stroke of brilliance by Qld selectors as the Qld player rises to the occasion.
Emcie
Roar Guru
DCE as a centre? He'd be more useful there then in the halves
DannyB
Guest
Some good options there. Hymel Hunt is also a contender. He has been apart of the QLD emerging squad before.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Well he definitely didn't bust his foot rushing to get back onside...?
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Give Kenner a go. He played well against the Knights 2 weeks ago. Backs these days, esp wingers, should be able to cover the fullback/centre role when the need arises. For the QLD team - I would partner Inglis with Guerra, Feldt and Oates outside them and Boyd at the back Papalii into Guerra's spot and Gillett on the bench to cover. Morgan bench option for the backs as well. Gagai as 18th man in camp for 1st Game then blood him by Game 2 at Suncorp after going up 1-0.
P. Marlowe
Guest
Tough break for the Storm who are struggling with injuries and creativity in the backline. From a Qld perspective, the outside backs are now quite thin... Boyd, Inglis, Oates, Feldt, Gagai would be my preference. Beyond that, its Justin O'Neill or Nene McDonald. I am struggling to think of anyone else who is not injured or suspended. Michael Morgan could perhaps play in the centres?
Joe
Roar Rookie
They will be scraping the bottom of the barrel for outside backs now. They're already playing Tohu Harris and Ben Hampton in the centres. I think their buying options over the last two years might come back to haunt them. They let go of Justin O'Neil who is killing it at the Cowboys and likely to get into Origin now to replace Chambers. Sisa Waqa, Kurt Mann, Matt Duffy and Hymel Hunt also let go and they bought Jeremy Hawkins and Cheyse Blair. Hopefully these two are over their injuries and ready to play. The other option is Kennar who is better off playing wing. Tough times coming up for the Storm especially with Origin coming up. The next few weeks will be the making or breaking of their season.