27-05-2025
‘He's gone': Matt Burton rushed into NSW Blues camp as Stephen Crichton set to be ruled out
Matt Burton has been rushed into the NSW camp after the side was rocked by yet another injury, this time to influential centre Stephen Crichton who is reportedly set to be ruled out of State of Origin Game 1.
The 24-year-old picked up a quad injury at Blues training as footage of him leaving the closed training session with ice and heavy strapping caused a stir online.
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The centre got a scan on Monday afternoon and while the Blues camp remains hopeful he can play on Wednesday night it isn't looking promising.
In case he can't take his place in the side, 18th man Campbell Graham is expected to come into the starting side at centre, with Burton the new 18th man.
Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould revealed Crichton's quad injury is 'worse than first expected' and he is in serious doubt.
'It's a little worse than first expected,' Gould said on 100% Footy on Monday night.
'He's now in the hands of the NSW medical staff and I trust them. He'd have to be 100 per cent.
'I said to them that he's a very resilient chap. He plays with injuries all the time. He'll know whether or not he can play it.'
While on SEN on Tuesday morning, former NSW selector Greg Alexander gave an even more damning update, stating the centre will be ruled out.
'He's gone, he's done. The cork that he picked up from the training session was bad enough to rule him out,' Alexander said.
Payne Haas expected to be cleared for Game 1
However, the news is not all bad for Daley, with Haas expected to overcome a quad injury that has him in doubt.
Haas was hurt in Brisbane's loss to the Dragons eight days ago and Daley revealed it was a 'seven to 10 days' injury.
Daley said he'll give Haas until kick-off to prove his fitness.
'This is his big moment, this is his big day. We're training at 10:30am this morning,' Daley told Big Sports Breakfast Radio on Monday.
'I haven't consumed myself too much in it, I've just let the medical staff do their job. I haven't wanted to be a pain with Payne and ask him every day how he's going because I don't think that's good for anyone.
'So I've just left him and touched base with the physios, we'll see where he is today and I reckon we'll have a better idea of what we can expect but look if he's not right, I've got every faith in Stefano coming in and doing a wonderful job for us.
'I'll give him right up until kick-off. They tell me it's not the main quad muscle, it's away from the main quad muscle, so it's not a serious injury and it's one that heals in seven to 10 days so it's right on that boundary.
'He's tracking really well if it was a major tear or in the main quad muscle then he would have been ruled out but the fact that it's been an 11-day campaign and we're right on the cusp, it's one of those things we've just got to wait and see.
'He's progressed really well and obviously he has to do a part of the session today, if he can't do anything we'll know straight away.'
