- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Michael Maguire is facing the toughest start imaginable to life as NSW coach, with Bradman Best now joining Nathan Cleary, Tom Trbojevic in being unavailable for selection.
Best, who scored two tries in his Origin debut last year and was integral to NSW’s 24-10 win in game three, damaged a hamstring in Newcastle’s 28-22 win over Gold Coast on Saturday.
The 22-year-old is the latest to join the casualty ward for at least the series opener on June 5 in Sydney.
“Bradman has been diagnosed with a grade two hamstring injury and he will miss at least four weeks,” Knights football boss Peter Parr told AAP. “That would put him out of Origin I. He played exceptionally well on his debut and our expectation at the Knights was that he would get picked for NSW.
“I spoke to him this afternoon and his attention had already turned to getting his rehab right. He is obviously disappointed but he has accepted that it is what it is. My conversation with him was all about his recovery and making sure he got back as quick as he could.”
Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen was also pushing for a bench utility spot but is out of the running after breaking his leg.
Cleary recently suffered a Grade 2 hamstring tear, ruling him out for eight weeks and the first two games of the Origin series.
The Blues are set to enter camp next week after naming their team on Sunday night.
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 Souths on Saturday, in a last-ditch bid for selection.
Nicho Hynes is now the frontrunner for NSW with Jarome Luai and Matt Burton as his halves partner.
Bradman Best celebrates scoring a try. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Stephen Crichton could return to the side at centre, while Latrell Mitchell is unlikely to be considered due to his recent dip in form.
Kotoni Staggs would be another option, while Maguire could play Burton, Cronulla’s Jesse Ramien or Zac Lomax at centre.
Murray was the first star 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.
Maguire said he had been 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’s absence means Hynes should take over as chief playmaker with Panthers pivot Jarome Luai or Canterbury five-eighth Matt Burton mounting strong selection cases with Mitchell Moses not returning with enough time to prove he is ready.
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.
Best scored two tries on debut in game three last year and had been getting back to his best for Newcastle before his hamstring went ping 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.
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 Matt Burton
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 Hudson Young
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.