LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Matt Burton has been called into the New South Wales State of Origin squad as a potential replacement for Stephen Crichton, who is struggling with an injury.
Reports from Danny Weidler indicate that Burton will prepare for the role of 18th man, coinciding with South Sydney Rabbitohs player Campbell Graham's potential debut.
Should Burton take on this emergency role, it would mean both the 18th man positions for Queensland and NSW are held by players from the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, further depleting the already undermanned squad.
During training, Crichton was unable to finish the session and was observed icing his left leg while limping off the field.
This raises concerns not just for Crichton's condition, which was initially thought to be a minor cork, but also for the stability of the Blues' backline ahead of the match.