LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Teammates are expressing confidence in Roosters rookie Robert Toia as he prepares for his Origin debut, particularly in his individual matchup against Latrell Mitchell.
Victor Radley highlighted Toia's potential, stating, "He'll be a beast and he'll kill it," emphasizing the hard work that has brought Toia to this moment early in his career.
Toia made a notable impression in his debut against the Broncos despite having faced two significant knee injuries and a broken jaw.
He showcased his talents just six minutes into the game by breaking through the defense, fending off Roosters legend James Tedesco, and assisting Dom Young in scoring the opening try.
This performance likely caught the attention of Queensland coach Billy Slater.
Due to injuries to Murray Taulagi and Selwyn Cobbo, Toia, now 20 years old and with only 10 NRL appearances under his belt, has been given the opportunity to make his Maroons debut.
His previous experience includes representing the under-19s in the Origin series in 2022, making him no stranger to high-stakes matches.
Teammates believe he is well-prepared to take on this challenge.