LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Keaon Koloamatangi has been withdrawn from the NSW squad for State of Origin 2 due to a suspected eye socket injury sustained on Sunday.
This development poses a significant challenge for Ivan Cleary and the Penrith Panthers as they prepare for their Round 16 clash against the Warriors.
Reports from au.news.yahoo.com indicate that Cleary has chosen not to take his Origin players to New Zealand for the game, opting to rest Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Brian To'o, Liam Martin, and Dylan Edwards following their participation in Origin 2.
The Panthers initially planned for Lindsay Smith to return by Tuesday ahead of their journey to New Zealand.
Smith had been with the NSW extended squad and traveled to Perth as a backup.
However, with Koloamatangi's injury ruling him out, Smith is now positioned as the 19th man and is likely to enter the playing 17 should another forward get injured.
As a result, Smith is expected to stay in Perth until after State of Origin 2, returning to Sydney no earlier than Thursday, then needing to fly to Auckland on Friday for the Panthers' match against the Warriors on Saturday.
This intense travel schedule raises concerns about the impact on Smith's readiness for the game.
Cleary might decide to rest Smith instead, considering "two flights in 48 hours - both around four hours each - is far from the ideal preparation." Ultimately, the team must weigh the risks associated with this travel against their immediate needs for the upcoming match.