NSW rocked by bizarre injury news, QLD star misses training

State of Origin is well and truly upon us, with NSW’s training camp struck by an injury as a key figure reportedly got “cut open”.

Matthew Sullivan

4 min read

May 28, 2024 - 3:57PM

Michael Maguire reportedly bumped his head and cut it open. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

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The State of Origin series opener is still more than a week away but NSW coach Michael Maguire’s preparation has gotten off to a poor start.

The vibe in the Blues set up was positive after Maguire named six debutants in a new look squad for his first series since taking over from Brad Fittler.

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NSW players arrived at the team’s Centre of Excellence in Homebush on Monday, but things took a turn when Maguire reportedly came off second best in an innocuous incident on Tuesday.

According to Nine’s Danny Weidler, Maguire cut his head open while walking from the team’s Centre of Excellence to a team photo shoot.

“He bumped into an object whilst deep in conversation with Payne Haas,” Weidler wrote on X.

“May need stitches. Bravely completed promo shoot.”

The Maroons had a minor scare of their own, with Queensland hooker Harry Grant missed their first training session due to illness.

Hopefully Michael Maguire’s mishap isn’t an omen. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Grant, who has been picked on the bench, was nowhere to be seen at Queensland’s main training session on Tuesday.

The Maroons are confident he will make a full recovery as Queensland chase a hat-trick of series wins.

“Harry is a bit crook the little fella,” Reece Walsh said.

“We saw him this morning, I think he is just resting up.

“He might be floating around somewhere, it might be a little tactic, he’s a bit crook.

“It would be good to let him have a rest today.”

The NRL Physio account joked on X: “Not to be outdone by Harry Grant’s sickness - NSW preparation now also thrown into disarray. Origin is truly back.”

This week the NSW Blues will head to Leura in the Blue Mountains, where they will be based for their training camp ahead of Game 1 in Sydney at Accor Stadium next Wednesday.

It is a change in preparation, with the Blues previously spending time in Coogee, Kingscliff and Coffs Harbour under Fittler in recent years.

Maguire decision to drop NSW captain James Tedesco and name Dylan Edwards at fullback was the major selection move signalling a new era under the former Souths, Tigers and New Zealand coach.

Nicho Hynes will be given every chance to recover from a calf injury to partner Jarome Luai in the halves, and Maguire said initial scans looked promising for the halfback.

Attention has now turned to the Blues’ bench, which is made up of four forwards — Isaah Yeo, Haumole Olakau’atu, Spencer Leniu and Hudson Young.

The gamble not to pick a utility player looks particularly risky compared to Queensland coach Billy Slater’s decision to select winger Selwyn Cobbo and hooker Harry Grant on the bench.

All was OK at the team photo shoot. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Bulldogs playmaker Matt Burton appeared to be the best option to be able to cover for any injuries that NSW may suffer in the series opener at Accor Stadium in Sydney on June 5, but he was instead named 18th man.

The limited substitute options has left Daley speculating Maguire is planning a late switch to bring Burton into the 17-man team and will drop either Olakau’atu or Young.

The Blues would be left particularly exposed should an injury happen to halfback Nicho Hynes or five-eighth Jarome Luai.

There is speculation Cronulla utility Cameron McInnes would be forced to move into the halves should Hynes or Luai go down with an injury.

Daley went on to say: “It’s a gamble going in without that utility player. I get where you’re coming from. If you look at the team, and I like the team, but you try to cover for every scenario that may happen and I would just feel more comfortable with one of those, either Olakau’atu or Hudson Young, being 18th man and Burton in the 17.”

Billy Slater talk tactics with Reece Walsh. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Daley said Burton was also capable of playing 10 minutes in the back row at the end of the game.

Maguire, however, appears supremely confident in Hynes’ ability to play the full 80 minutes and said on Monday night he expects Hynes to be able to “hit the ground running” from the team’s first training session together.

“The conversation I had with him yesterday, one being extremely excited about the fact he was in the team, which was a pretty special phone call in itself,” he said.

“He’s ready to go and I’ve spoken to a lot of players over the last couple of months and albeit you’re faced with many different scenarios of what the team may or may not be.

“I’m really super confident with how Nicho’s been and just listening to his conversations of what he’s actually faced over his career and what he’s learnt, I’m really looking forward to how he comes into camp and he’s a leader.”