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Michael Maguire is facing the toughest start imaginable to life as NSW coach, with Nathan Cleary at risk of joining Tom Trbojevic on the sidelines for State of Origin
Cleary limped from the field in Penrith’s 16-10 win over Canterbury on Friday night, and will have scans on Saturday afternoon to confirm he has re-injured his right hamstring.
Even the smallest of tears would leave Cleary in doubt for Origin I at Accor Stadium on June 5, with the Blues set to enter camp in a little over a fortnight.
The halfback’s injury came at the same time that scans confirmed Trbojevic would miss seven weeks for Manly with his hamstring tear, ruling him out of Origin I and II.
Mitch Moses would ordinarily be the frontrunner to replace two-time Clive Churchill Medallist Cleary, but he has his own injury woes. The Parramatta playmaker is some chance of returning from a foot injury against Melbourne next Sunday, but is far from a certainty to play.
If he does not feature in that match, Maguire will have only one game to look at him against South Sydney on May 25 before he names his first team.
Nicho Hynes would be another option for NSW, given he is already viewed as an option at five-eighth along with Jarome Luai and Matt Burton.
Fellow fullback-turned-centre Latrell Mitchell has reportedly considered making himself unavailable for NSW amid South Sydney’s horror start to the season.
Stephen Crichton could return to the side at centre, while Incumbent Bradman Best‘s chance of holding his spot are firming.
Kotoni Staggs would be another option, while Maguire could play Burton or Zac Lomax at centre.
Souths star Cameron Murray is also off the selection table after he suffered a hip flexor complaint during their Round 9 loss to Penrith and would be out for six to eight weeks, ruling him out of the State of Origin series opener and possibly game two in Melbourne.
Murray has been one of NSW’s best in recent years and his absence opens the door or Rabbitohs teammate Keaon Koloamatangi or Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu to step up.
Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen‘s chances of making his debut as a bench utility have been curtailed by a broken leg which has ruled him out until June.
Maguire is considering as many as 50 players for the State of Origin series opener with not even captain James Tedesco assured of keeping his spot.
After two straight years of series defeats at the hands of Billy Slater’s rejuvenated Queenslanders and the exit of Fittler as coach, the Blues are certain to field a new-look side when the 2024 interstate battle kicks off at Accor Stadium on June 5.
Origin III
1 James Tedesco
2 Brian To’o
3 Stephen Crichton
4 Bradman Best
5 Josh Addo-Carr
6 Cody Walker
7 Mitchell Moses
8 Jake Trbojevic
9 Damien Cook
10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
11 Keaon Koloamatangi
12 Liam Martin
13 Cameron Murray
14 Isaah Yeo
15 Jacob Saifiti
16 Reece Robson
17 Clint Gutherson
The Blues overhauled their line-up for game three last year and they recorded a consolation 24-10 win on home turf.
From that side, hooker Damien Cook is all but certain to be omitted this time around after a drop in form from the veteran Rabbitoh while Souths teammate Cody Walker and Knights forward Tyson Frizell have likely played their last match for the Blues.
Only winger Brian To’o and forwards Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo could be considered automatic selections from the Origin III side with Maguire failing to give James Tedesco a guarantee recently when asked whether the skipper would again be lining up at fullback.
Cleary is getting back to his best after his early season was disrupted by a hamstring injury but now he is again in doubt after it flared up in the win over Canterbury. Panthers teammate Jarome Luai could return as a playmaker with Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes and Canterbury five-eighth Matt Burton mounting strong selection cases and Mitchell Moses hopeful of returning in time.
Moses is an outside chance of making an early return from a broken foot in time for game one but it would be a risk to then pitch him into the Origin cauldron.
Tedesco has been steady at fullback for the Roosters but Penrith’s Dylan Edwards has been overshadowing him at club level to mount another strong claim to the NSW No.1 jersey.
At hooker, Reece Robson played his first two Origins last year and is vying with Api Koroisau and Cronulla’s Blayke Brailey for the starting job.
(Photo by George Wood/Getty Images for RLWC)
Even if he makes himself available after speculation has swirled that he will pull out of the selection race, Mitchell is running out of time to show he is worth another run while Trbojevic would have been a certain starter at centre if not for his latest hamstring drama.
Bradman Best scored two tries on debut in game three last year and has been getting back to his best for Newcastle this season while Canterbury recruit Stephen Crichton is another big-game performer in the mix.
On the wings, To’o will get one jersey while Lomax is mounting a serious challenge to depose Josh Addo-Carr for the other flank with rugby-bound Roosters speedster Joseph Suaalii another option.
Haas will spearhead the Blues up front, Yeo and Martin will bring experience but the other six forward spots in the run-on side and interchange are up for grabs.
Murray’s hip problem is great news for Queensland as the South Sydney skipper has been one of the Blues’ busiest workers in recent seasons.
Rabbitohs second-rower Keaon Koloamatangi impressed in his Origin debut last year while Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu has been in strong form in recent weeks.
Maguire is reportedly considering a more-experienced hard worker like Cronulla veteran Cameron McInnes while the likes of Jake Trbojevic, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Junior Paulo, Hudson Young, Jacob and Daniel Saifiti, and Stefano Utoikamanu are on the long list of candidates.
Liam Martin. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
1 James Tedesco
2 Brian To’o
3 Bradman Best
4 Stephen Crichton
5 Josh Addo-Carr
6 Jarome Luai
7 Nathan Cleary/Mitchell Moses
8 Payne Haas
9 Api Koroisau
10 Junior Paulo
11 Keaon Koloamatangi
12 Liam Martin
13 Isaah Yeo
14 Nicho Hynes
15 Cameron McInnes
16 Haumole Olakau’atu
17 Stefano Utoikamanu
18 Matt Burton
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