NSW Blues and Warriors rocked by major blow as Mitchell Barnett suffers knee injury

NSW coach Laurie Daley will be sweating on the fitness of Mitch Barnett after the enforcer was forced from the field with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

NSW coach Laurie Daley will be sweating on the fitness of Mitchell Barnett after the enforcer was forced from the field with what appeared to be a serious knee injury during the Warriors’ 36-30 win over South Sydney at Accor Stadium on Sunday.

The 31-year-old’s knee appeared to collapse inward as he attempted to tackle Rabbitohs halfback Bud Sullivan midway through the first half.

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After being helped from the field by two trainers, the Blues enforcer went straight up the tunnel and was later seen on crutches in the dressing rooms.

While confirming that Barnett had hurt his knee, Warriors coach Andrew Webster claimed he didn’t know the extent of the injury.

“He’s definitely done a knee injury of some description,” Webster said post-match.

“We’re waiting for scans… we honestly don’t know what it is right now.

“There are different grades to each different injury and until you look under the hood, you honestly don’t know.”

Mitch Barnett suffered a horror knee injury. Image: Kayo

Barnett’s absence would be a horror blow to a Blues side looking to wrap up their second-straight Origin series at Perth’s Optus Stadium on June 18.

In the Blues’ 18-6 win over Queensland in Origin 1 last week, in just over 40 minutes, Barnett ran for 110 metres and made 26 tackles.

However, if Barnett is to be ruled out of Origin 2, Souths’ Keon Koloamatagi couldn’t have done more to put his hand up to replace the Warriors star.

Despite being in the losing side, the Bunnies forward couldn’t have done more, scoring one try, running for a whopping 197m, made 8 tackle breaks and 39 tackles.

-with NewsWire

Originally published as NSW Blues and Warriors rocked by major blow as Mitchell Barnett suffers knee injury