Daley weighs up wing options after injury cruels Blues hopeful

A South Sydney flyer who has overcome a horror injury run, a trusted big-game player from Parramatta, or even the competition’s leading top try-scorer are all in the mix for a NSW wing spot after news Mark Nawaqanitawase will undergo ankle surgery.

The Sydney Roosters held on to defeat premiers Brisbane 38-24 on Saturday night, but the triumph came at a cost for the club – and NSW coach Laurie Daley – with Nawaqanitawase injured, while back-rower and Blues’ stalwart Angus Crichton failed to finish the game due to a knee injury.

The first State of Origin teams will be named in two weeks, and Nawaqanitawase and Crichton are expected to join the bulging casualty ward. To make matters worse, fellow Blues hopeful Adam Doueihi injured his shoulder on Sunday and will need scans.

Daley did not need reminding the Blues have 1076 games of NRL experience sidelined, including Brisbane’s Payne Haas (148 games), Canterbury’s Jacob Kiraz (84) and Max King (144), Crichton (206), Manly’s Tom Trbojevic (176), Nawaqanitawase (32) and Penrith pair Mitch Kenny (135) and Liam Martin (151).

Rugby-bound Nawaqanitawase was pushing for an Origin berth after representing Australia during last year’s Ashes tour.

But Roosters coach Trent Robinson confirmed the worst after Saturday’s game, saying: “It’s syndesmosis – he looks like he’ll have an op.”

Daley was disappointed to see Nawaqanitawase hobble off on Saturday night with an injury that was the result of friendly fire from teammate – and Queensland Origin representative – Rob Toia.

“Mark was certainly in the mix. I was loving the way he was bringing the ball out of yardage,” Daley said on Sunday.

“He’s a great finisher, very good in the air and he’s also got a bit of flair about him. I also thought he was adapting really well defensively and improving every week in that area. It’s a huge shame.”

Penrith’s Brian To’o will be one winger for the Blues, but debate will now ramp up about who gets the other spot.

Kiraz (knee) is still a few weeks away from returning, while Trbojevic, who has played on the wing at Origin level, is also out for at least another six weeks.

South Sydney’s Campbell Graham and Parramatta’s Josh Addo-Carr are two of the more experienced campaigners. Daley praised Graham’s ability to bounce back from a horror run of injuries.

“I’ve always liked Campbell as a person and a player,” Daley said.

“He’s a strong carrier of the ball, good under the high ball and he’s resilient. He’s had a lot of injuries in recent years, and had to continually work hard to get himself back. He’s just a reliable guy who would be more than suited at this level. We even had him in and around the camp last year. There would be no issues picking him.”

Manly’s Tolu Koula is lightning fast, Wests Tigers’ Sunia Turuva has big-game experience from his time at Penrith and To’o’s teammate Tom Jenkins is the competition’s leading try-scorer. All three are in the Origin conversation. Penrith centre Casey McLean has also played on the wing for New Zealand.

A left-field option would be South Sydney’s Alex Johnston, especially given his form and combination with Latrell Mitchell at the Rabbitohs.

Crichton has been a mainstay for the Blues in the forwards, and Robinson feared the 30-year-old, who will also head to rugby with Nawaqanitawase at the end of the season, had injured his medial collateral ligament.

“We’re having a look at that to see where he’s at, so he’s getting scans now,” Robinson said.

Wests Tigers hooker Api Koroisau is suspended and will not play again before teams are picked. Canberra’s Hudson Young returns from a two-match suspension on Sunday, but Canberra have the bye the following week, which means he will have played one game in five weeks before Origin I.