LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Mitchell Moses faces a significant setback as he has reportedly suffered a calf strain during State of Origin training, which will likely keep him sidelined for an extended period.
According to zerotackle.com, the star halfback, who performed as five-eighth for the Blues in Game 1 and was expected to continue in that role for Game 2, has been confirmed as a late withdrawal from the New South Wales squad.
Initially, the extent of the injury was uncertain, but Channel 9 has since reported that he could miss up to six weeks while recovering.
This injury marks another unfortunate chapter for Moses, who previously missed the end of the 2024 season due to an injury sustained while leading the Blues to a memorable State of Origin series victory at Suncorp Stadium.
Furthermore, he struggled with a foot injury that sidelined him for much of the first half of 2025.
In light of Moses's absence, Jarome Luai has been called up to replace him in the New South Wales team, starting alongside Nathan Cleary.
This change comes despite Canterbury Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton initially being named as the 18th man when the squad was announced.
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Blues as they navigate through critical games in the series without one of their key players.