LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Brian To'o faces a challenging situation regarding his spot in the NSW State of Origin team.
With coach Laurie Daley reportedly reluctant to choose two wingers returning from injury, To'o's recent comeback may jeopardize his position.
He returned from a hamstring injury last week in a match against the Cowboys that ended in a stalemate after golden point.
During his return, To'o recorded 193 running metres over 90 minutes but appeared slower as he worked on regaining his match fitness post-injury.
Compounding To'o's predicament is the Penrith Panthers' upcoming bye week, which means Daley will have only one game to evaluate To'o's readiness before selecting the Origin squad.
Meanwhile, incumbent right winger Zac Lomax is also on the mend.
He is set to make his first appearance for the Eels since round five after sidelining due to a foot injury sustained earlier this season.
Lomax had been one of the standout players for the Blues last year, adding to the complexity of Daley's decision-making.
As Daley contemplates the possible selections, he faces the risk of fielding both To'o and Lomax, who lack sufficient game time leading up to Game 1 at Suncorp.
If Daley decides against taking that risk, Jacob Kiraz emerges as a strong alternative for the wing position.
As reporter Michael Chammas noted, the bye is ill-timed for To'o, who needs more game time to demonstrate his fitness.
Chammas said, "I'm not convinced he will take a risk on both To'o and Lomax in one game.
I think the fact that Penrith have a bye may work against To'o.
Played one game and he wasn't that good last week.
He will have only played one game in 10 weeks."
In summary, To'o's return may not be enough to secure his spot, especially with crucial decisions pending as Daley aims to strike a balance between experience and match readiness for the Origin series.