Both teams have injury concerns leading into selection for the second State of Origin match in Perth on June 18.
The Warriors have announced that scans have revealed Blues prop Mitchell Barnett suffered a serious knee injury, after the NSW prop limped off in their 36-30 win over South Sydney on Sunday.
Barnett’s Origin series and 2025 season is over after he clutched at his right knee while making a first-half tackle at Accor Stadium with scans revealing an ACL tear.
The injury came just four days after Barnett laid the platform for NSW in their series-opening win, and two-and-a-half weeks out from game two in Perth.
Melbourne’s Stefano Utoikamanu, Manly veteran Jake Trbojevic and Wests Tigers front-rower Terrell May will be in contention for a call-up.
Utoikamanu is the favourite after he was on the extended reserves list for the 18-6 win over Queensland in Brisbane last week.
Keaon Koloamatangi made his case in Souths’ loss – the 27-year-old got through 80 minutes again, bust eight tackles and scored the Rabbitohs’ first try when he barged through three defenders to go over the line.
Mitchell Barnett. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
After totalling 494 metres in his first two games since moving from second row to prop, the one-time Origin player ran another 189m on Sunday.
Canterbury’s Max King, after an accomplished first appearance for NSW, could get promoted to the run-on team if Barnett’s knee damage is significant.
Maroons coach Billy Slater faces questions over form with captain Daly Cherry-Evans under pressure to retain the halfback spot over Tom Dearden.
Canterbury veteran Kurt Mann could get an Origin debut at 32 if Dearden is elevated to the starting side from his bench utility role.
Cowboys forward Jeremiah Nanai is free to play after copping a grade-one charge for a crusher tackle in Saturday’s win over Wests Tigers with payment of a $3000 fine meaning he avoids a two-game ban.
Maroons teammate Beau Fermor is also available for Origin selection despite being charged for a high tackle which has only earned the Titans second-rower a fine of $1800.
Reece Walsh is pushing to make a return for the Broncos next Saturday against the Gold Coast so he could replace Kalyn Ponga at fullback while Slater is also considering shaking up his forwards with Corey Horsburgh, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, J’maine Hopgood and Jaydn Su’A in contention for a call-up.
Su’A limped off with an ankle injury in the first half of St George Illawarra’s win over Newcastle on Friday night and will sit out Round 14 so it would be a gamble for the Maroons to recall him to the pack.
Ponga sat out Round 13 with an ankle problem but should be back next round. Veteran utility Ben Hunt is no chance of being available due to his hamstring injury.
Likely Origin II teams
Blues vs Maroons at Optus Stadium: 8pm, Wednesday June 18
NSW
1. Dylan Edwards
2. Brian To’o
3. Stephen Crichton
4. Latrell Mitchell
5. Zac Lomax
6. Mitchell Moses
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Max King
9. Reece Robson
10. Payne Haas
11. Liam Martin
12. Angus Crichton
13. Isaah Yeo (c)
14. Connor Watson
15. Spencer Leniu
16. Hudson Young
17. Stefano Utoikamanu
18. Campbell Graham
Queensland
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Xavier Coates
3. Robert Toia
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5. Valentine Holmes
6. Cameron Munster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans/Tom Dearden
8. Moeaki Fotuaika
9. Harry Grant
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11. Reuben Cotter
12. Jeremiah Nanai
13. Patrick Carrigan
14. Tom Dearden/Kurt Mann
15. Lindsay Collins
16. Beau Fermor
17. Trent Loeiro
18. Kurt Mann/Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
