LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
There are growing concerns regarding NSW centre Stephen Crichton's availability for the State of Origin opener, with former players Gorden Tallis and Braith Anasta suggesting he might be ruled out on game day.
Despite being named in the 19-man squad, officials expect him to play, noting that he is recovering from a cork injury to his upper leg.
Reports indicate that Matt Burton was initially called to the squad as a precautionary measure but was informed he was not needed as the final squad was confirmed.
This decision reflects a significant gamble on NSW's part, especially since Burton could have been designated as the 18th man had Crichton needed to be replaced.
Crichton appeared to struggle during training, limping off with an iced leg following a collision, and he also carried a groin issue into camp.
The situation escalated when footage of his exit from training was leaked, causing alarm about his fitness among Blues officials.
They plan to reassess Crichton's condition on game day, but reports suggest that his injury has improved since Tuesday morning.
Though NSW remains hopeful about Crichton's participation, Tallis expressed skepticism.
He stated, "I've got a feeling that Crichton won't play...
Origin is a beast and he limped into camp so you've got to watch these little things." He noted Crichton's injury history and the impact of carrying multiple issues, emphasizing, "there's part of that in your process as well, then there's the selfish part like 'I want to go out there and play' but you don't want to let these boys down."
The situation remains tense as the match approaches, underscoring the fragility of player fitness leading into high-stakes games like State of Origin.