Laurie Daley has announced that three candidates are under consideration to take over from Cronulla Sharks' dummy half, Blayke Brailey, who suffered a broken arm during Friday night's match.
The Sharks provided an injury update on Saturday, confirming that Brailey will undergo surgery, which will prevent him from participating in Game 2. However, there remains a glimmer of hope that he might return for Game 3 in Brisbane.
The contenders to step into Brailey's role for the upcoming match in Melbourne include Wayde Egan, Apisai Koroisau, and Connor Watson, all of whom are now competing for a position on the bench.
Daley emphasized to News Corp that a player's recent performance will greatly influence his decision.
"All three of those guys will be in the conversation," Daley remarked to News Corp.
"Whoever can play well between now and when we select the side may well find themselves on that bench."
"For us it's very important. (We) saw the impact of Blayke. If you get momentum in today's game from dummy half and put pressure on the opposition, that was a real strength."
"There is an opportunity there for someone if they play well in the next couple of weeks."
Watson was initially seen as a strong contender for the Game 1 bench due to his adaptability but was unexpectedly left out, while Koroisau brings valuable Origin experience to the table.