State of Origin injury crisis rocks NSW and Queensland camps ahead of Game 1

News.com.au

17-05-2025

The New South Wales and Queensland State of Origin sides have been ripped apart as injuries wreaked havoc in round 11.
In two days of complete NRL chaos, several Origin hopefuls have either been ruled out or are now in serious doubt as an injury crisis hits at the worst possible time for both Billy Slater and Laurie Daley.
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On Friday, the star of Game 3 last year, Bradman Best, was ruled out with a hamstring injury that is set to keep the Knights star on the sidelines for two to three months.
Then on Friday night his teammate Jacob Saifiti, who was widely tipped to win a spot on Daley's NSW bench, picked up a calf injury that will see him miss Game 1.
And the injury chaos only escalated on Saturday when Queensland Origin hopeful Tom Gilbert suffered what appeared to be a ruptured pec, after overreaching while unsuccessfully trying to stop Marata Niukore from scoring the game's opening try.
If the worst is confirmed it will see Gilbert miss the entire Origin series as he will spend between 10 and 15 weeks on the sidelines.
Yet the injury madness didn't stop there as in the second game on Saturday, NSW captain Jake Trbojevic was knocked out in a nasty incident.
The inspirational Blues skipper was already under a lot of pressure to retain his spot and there were mixed opinions over whether he should or would retain his spot in 2025.
But he is no longer a selection headache for NSW coach Daley after the Manly front rower was concussed after he got his head in the wrong position in a collision with Cowboys' Murray Taulagi.
As a result of the NRL's mandatory stand-down policy, Trbojevic will be ruled out of Game 1.
While his brother Tom Trbojevic seemingly played himself out of a Blues jersey as he continues to be severely hampered by a knee injury that saw him spend several weeks on the sideline earlier this year.
The Manly star lacked punch in attack and his performance was riddled with mistakes.
The Sea Eagles No. 1 made five errors in Saturday night's win over the Cowboys, including a knock-on with the line wide open.
He also bombed another two tries and wrapped up his horror show by being sin-binned in the closing seconds.
While NSW fans also face a nervous wait about the potential availability of damaging back-rower Haumole Olakau'atu after he was placed on report for a rogue kick out that struck Murray Taulagi in the head.
You can watch Haumole Olakau'atu's incident at the top of the page.
Ryan Papenhuyzen also faces a nervous wait after the emotions got the better of him in Melbourne's 31-26 loss to the Sharks.
In the final play of the game the Storm No. 1 caught winger Ronaldo Mulitalo high while the Sharks player was defenceless on the ground.
Papenhuyzen was believed to be in contention for the Blues No.1 jersey and even potentially a spot on the bench but could find himself facing a ban after Saturday night's indiscretion.
The Blues side will be named on Sunday night at the conclusion of the round, with Slater to unveil his side on Monday morning.