Blues handed huge Origin boost after two-word revelation amid sad Mitch Moses news

Yahoo

14 hours ago

Brian To'o has been cleared to play for NSW in next Wednesday's State of Origin Game 2 after a telling two-word revelation at Blues camp on Saturday. The news is not so good for Mitch Moses though, with scans confirming the severity of a calf injury that has dealt the Blues a hammer blow to their hopes of wrapping up the series with another win in Perth.
To'o sent a massive scare through Blues camp on Thursday when he suffered a fresh hamstring injury, prompting NSW to call up Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz as injury cover for the Penrith flyer. Coach Laurie Daley fuelled the fears around To'o after revealing that his recovery had not progressed as quickly as NSW medical staff had hoped.
But after sitting out the bulk of Friday training with the Blues, To'o trained with the team on Saturday before being cleared to fly out to Perth later in the day. To'o spent part of the warm-up consulting with NSW team physiotherapist Kenny Michalopoulos, separately from his teammates.
The four-time premiership-winner then joined in for the opposed session against the NSW U19s side and ran without any complications. He was briefly substituted out to rest and replaced on the left wing by Wests Tigers winger Luke Laulilii but was heard telling the Blues physio towards the end of the session that he "feels good", in two words that will come as huge relief for the team.
Brian To'o has trained with the Blues today & has been cleared to play in Origin 2 after dealing with a hamstring issue.Means Jacob Kiraz will also be released from NSW camp to play for the Bulldogs this weekend. pic.twitter.com/ENtoye52ZL
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 14, 2025
Daley was prepared to leave it until after Saturday morning's training session to make a call on To'o. And the positive development means the NSW winger will take his spot on the Blues' charter flight to Perth, which departs Sydney Airport on Saturday afternoon.
"He's ready to rock," five-eighth Jarome Luai said prior to Saturday's session. "He's one of the best wingers to play this game of rugby league. He's a big piece in this puzzle." Luai was called into the NSW starting side to replace Moses, with Daley backing his combination with former Penrith teammate Nathan Cleary after selecting the Tigers half ahead of 18th man Matt Burton, who has been superb in the No.6 role for Canterbury this season.
Blues right winger Zac Lomax also threw his backing behind To'o, who scored a try and ran for a game-high 225 metres in the Origin opener. His strong carries from the back helped lay the platform for NSW's 18-6 win and the Blues will be hoping for more of the same in Perth as they look to clinch back-to-back series triumphs.
"He'll be ready to go. He's a professional, he gets himself ready and he's played a lot of games here (for NSW)," Lomax said about To'o. "We love having Bizza in the team, he's been an unbelievable asset... His courage in the back of the field, his effort areas are unbelievable too.
"The best thing for 'Biz' is he wants to get his team forward at the back of the field. That's massive and that's what Origin's about. Since I've been able to play with him, that's just the thing that I admire about him, the way that he gets us forward."
If the Blues are to win the series, they will have to do so without Moses, after scans confirmed his calf strain would rule the playmaker out for up to six weeks. With Game 3 in Sydney less than four weeks away, it means the Eels skipper is next to no chance of playing any further part in the series.
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It's also a massive blow to Parramatta's hopes of lifting themselves off second-last spot on the NRL ladder. Moses may not return to action until as late as round 21, in a devastating blow to Parramatta's hopes of making a late charge in coach Jason Ryles' first season at the helm.
with AAP