A South Sydney flyer who has overcome a series of serious injuries, a reliable big-game player from Parramatta, or even the competition’s leading top try-scorer are all in the running for a New South Wales wing spot after news that Mark Nawaqanitawase will undergo ankle surgery.
The Sydney Roosters managed to secure a victory against premiers Brisbane with a final score of 38-24 on Saturday night. However, this win came at a cost for the club and for NSW coach Laurie Daley, as Nawaqanitawase suffered an injury during the match, while back-rower and Blues stalwart Angus Crichton was unable to finish the game due to a knee injury.
The first State of Origin teams will be announced in two weeks, and both Nawaqanitawase and Crichton are expected to join the growing list of injured players. To make matters worse, fellow Blues hopeful Adam Doueihi sustained a shoulder injury on Sunday and will require scans to determine the extent of the damage.
Daley is well aware of the challenge ahead, as the Blues have 1076 games of NRL experience currently sidelined. This includes players such as Brisbane’s Payne Haas (148 games), Canterbury’s Jacob Kiraz (84) and Max King (144), Crichton (206), Manly’s Tom Trbojevic (176), Nawaqanitawase (32), and Penrith pair Mitch Kenny (135) and Liam Martin (151).
Nawaqanitawase, who is set to move to rugby, was in contention for an Origin berth after representing Australia during last year’s Ashes tour. However, Roosters coach Trent Robinson confirmed the worst after Saturday’s game, stating: “It’s syndesmosis – he looks like he’ll have an operation.”
Daley expressed his disappointment after seeing Nawaqanitawase hobble off on Saturday night, with the injury resulting from a collision with teammate and Queensland Origin representative Rob Toia.
“Mark was certainly in the mix. I was loving the way he was bringing the ball out of yardage,” Daley said on Sunday.
“He’s a great finisher, very good in the air and he’s also got a bit of flair about him. I also thought he was adapting really well defensively and improving every week in that area. It’s a huge shame.”
Penrith’s Brian To’o will be one of the wingers for the Blues, but debate is now intensifying over who will take the other spot. Kiraz (knee) is still a few weeks away from returning, while Trbojevic, who has played on the wing at Origin level, is also out for at least another six weeks.
South Sydney’s Campbell Graham and Parramatta’s Josh Addo-Carr are two of the more experienced players in the conversation. Daley praised Graham’s ability to bounce back from a difficult run of injuries.
“I’ve always liked Campbell as a person and a player,” Daley said.
“He’s a strong carrier of the ball, good under the high ball and he’s resilient. He’s had a lot of injuries in recent years, and had to continually work hard to get himself back. He’s just a reliable guy who would be more than suited at this level. We even had him in and around the camp last year. There would be no issues picking him.”
Manly’s Tolu Koula is known for his speed, Wests Tigers’ Sunia Turuva has big-game experience from his time at Penrith, and To’o’s teammate Tom Jenkins is the competition’s leading try-scorer. All three are in the Origin conversation. Penrith centre Casey McLean has also played on the wing for New Zealand.
A left-field option could be South Sydney’s Alex Johnston, especially given his form and combination with Latrell Mitchell at the Rabbitohs.
Crichton has been a key player for the Blues in the forwards, and Robinson feared the 30-year-old, who will also head to rugby with Nawaqanitawase at the end of the season, had injured his medial collateral ligament.
“We’re having a look at that to see where he’s at, so he’s getting scans now,” Robinson said.
Wests Tigers hooker Api Koroisau is suspended and will not play again before teams are picked. Canberra’s Hudson Young returns from a two-match suspension on Sunday, but Canberra have the bye the following week, which means he will have played only one game in five weeks before Origin I.
