The NSW Blues’ hopes of winning this year’s State of Origin series have taken a hit, with the game’s premier prop, Payne Haas, expected to miss game one in Sydney next month.
Haas suffered a knee injury on Saturday in the Broncos’ 21-20 win over the Wests Tigers on the same weekend that fellow NSW hopefuls Tom Trbojevic and Penrith’s Mitch Kenny also found themselves facing extended stints on the sidelines.
On Monday, the Broncos confirmed Haas had suffered a grade three MCL injury.
“Based on early medical assessments, Haas is expected to be sidelined for approximately six to eight weeks,” read a club statement.
Even at the most optimistic end of that timeline, Haas would be unavailable for game one at Accor Stadium on May 27.
Haas chances of playing in game two of the Origin series in Melbourne on June 17 are also in question. Being without their leading man in the middle of the field is a significant concern for the Blues.
Game three of the series is in Brisbane on July 8.
Manly fullback Trbojevic could miss eight weeks with a hamstring issue, while Penrith No.9 Kenny, who had been in the Origin conversation as a potential Blues hooker, suffered a leg fracture against the Dolphins on Friday and could be sidelined for two months.
More to come …
Tom Decent is the chief sports writer for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
