Mitchell Moses set to be ruled out of Origin opener after suffering hamstring strain

Mitchell Moses is set to be ruled out of Origin I after suffering a minor hamstring strain likely to sideline him for up to a month.

The Parramatta playmaker completed Monday’s opposed session on the Central Coast against Newcastle’s NSW Cup team, then felt tightness while he was completing extras.

Blues medicos will send Moses for scans on Tuesday to determine the extent of the damage to Moses’ left hamstring.

NSW doctor Nathan Gibbs told this masthead on Monday: “Mitch felt a minor tweak right at the end of training when he was doing extras. He walked off without any trouble, but it started to get sore afterwards.

“A minor strain is normally a three to four-week return to play. I can’t see him being fit in two days [for Origin I]. Mitch said he’s had calf issues – he was ruled out last year in Origin camp because of his calf – but told us he’s never actually had a hamstring injury.”

Canberra’s Ethan Strange is expected to slot into the starting line-up at five-eighth. Canterbury’s Matt Burton has been called into camp and was set to link with the squad when they arrive in Sydney later on Monday, provided the NRL approves the request.

Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly said Isaiya Katoa was NSW’s first choice to come into camp, but the Dolphins playmaker was currently stood down as part of the game’s concussion protocols after receiving a head knock against Canberra on Thursday night.

Burton played arguably his best game at five-eighth last Friday when the Bulldogs defeated the Melbourne Storm, and is no stranger to playing Origin football.

NSW Origin general manager of football Frank Ponissi stopped short of ruling out Moses, but conceded he was at long odds of playing against Queensland. An official decision will be made before the captain’s run on Tuesday.

“If he’s out, it will be a big loss. Him and Nathan [Cleary] have worked hard all week, but Ethan Strange has worked in there as well, so that’s probably the bonus of having a 19-man squad,” Ponissi said.

“We can have someone like Ethan training all week, both at No. 6 and No. 7, so it certainly makes it a bit more bearable should we lose Mitch Moses.

“Mitch will give himself every possible chance, but we decided to get on the front foot and have a plan B now, rather than wait until the scans. If Mitch doesn’t play, he’ll be disappointed – but he’s a realist and understands unfortunately that’s rugby league.”

Until Monday, the Blues had enjoyed a trouble-free campaign – unlike last year, when there were concerns over Payne Haas and Brian To’o, then Stephen Crichton on the Monday before kick-off, heading into the series opener.

Canterbury captain Crichton suffered a grade-five AC joint injury on Good Friday, but made a rapid recovery in just three weeks with the assistance of painkillers.

“A minor strain is normally a three to four-week return to play. I can’t see him being fit in two days.”

NSW doctor Nathan Gibbs on Moses’ injury

“When I first did it, I needed [a painkilling needle] in the first-half and again at half-time, but the last two games I’ve only needed it for the start,” said Crichton, before the Blues trained against Newcastle’s NSW Cup side on Monday.

“I reckon I could go without it, but for safety, I’ll just get it done. It’s probably the best it’s felt going into games, and that’s cleared my mind as well. It was bad at the start, and I couldn’t lift my arm, but it’s been four of five weeks now, and with the needle, I can’t feel anything.”

Crichton confirmed he had spent time training at fullback as cover for James Tedesco

Phil Gould, Canterbury’s general manager of football, failed to mention Crichton when discussing the Blues’ contingency plans if the No.1 went down.

“Centre is my main position, but I’ve had a few [reps] here at training [at fullback] – probably not as much as I want to; at the Bulldogs I’ve had a lot of reps there,” he said.

“God willing nothing happens [to Tedesco], but if it does, I’ll attack the game. Fullback you don’t make as many tackles as centre, but there’s a lot of ‘ks’ you have to cover.”

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