Peter Wallace injury opens NSW Origin door for Nathan Peats

NATHAN Peats is the new favourite to be named NSW’s State of Origin hooker after Peter Wallace’s injury. Check out the likely Blues team.

Nathan Peats is in line to make his State of Origin debut.

RUGBY league, you can be so cruel.

Penrith hooker Peter Wallace is set to be robbed of a stunning comeback to State of Origin after sustaining a groin injury against Newcastle on Sunday.

The injury has thrown NSW’s game one preparations into chaos.

Gold Coast’s Nathan Peats is now the favourite ahead of South Sydney’s Robbie Farah.

Wallace was on track to win the three-way battle for selection until he hobbled off after 16 minutes in Penrith’s 30-20 win over Newcastle.

Wallace will have scans on Monday to determine the extent of his ­injury but he is long odds to play in Origin I on Wednesday week.

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Injury is set to rob Peter Wallace of a State of Origin recall. File photo

He left McDonald Jones Stadium early and did not speak with the media.

The Blues team will be announced at a black-tie event at The Star at 6.40pm Monday.

Daley wants his hooker/dummy-half to be running full speed at training on Wednesday.

Given Wallace did not return to the field, it would appear unlikely he could be training by Wednesday at NSW’s camp in Kingscliff.

It looms as a crushing blow for Wallace, who last played for NSW in 2009.

Daley and his chief adviser, Peter Sterling, will speak again on Monday morning to nail down their hooker.

It was unknown on Sunday night whether NSW would pick Wallace or rule him unavailable ­immediately.

The NSW camp was late Sunday night seeking urgent medical reports on Wallace from Penrith’s medical staff.

“He’s got a groin problem and he just couldn’t stretch out,’’ Panthers coach Anthony Griffin said.

“He did it in a funny way. He said he was on his back and someone fell on him. Hopefully for him, it is not too serious.’’

Nathan Peats is in line to make his State of Origin debut.

Farah’s final push for selection came against Melbourne in Perth on Sunday night.

Peats is young, cheeky and ready for Origin, according to ­Titans teammates.

Farah has been a regular in the Blues side since making his Origin debut in 2009.

Other possible selection news includes:

• THE Roosters’ Daniel Tupou, Canterbury’s Brett Morris and Canberra’s Jack Wighton fighting for the wing spot originally set aside for injured Manly star Tom Trbojevic. Tupou is a slight favourite and Wighton the “smoky’’. Tom’s brother, Jake, is ready to claim a bench spot.

• JARRYD Hayne will make his return to the NSW side at centre, while Mitchell Pearce has beaten South Sydney’s Adam Reynolds to be NSW halfback.

• FIVE back-rowers are being touted as possible selections — Jake Trbojevic, Boyd Cordner, Wade Graham, Tyson Frizell and Josh Jackson.

• CRONULLA’S Brisbane-bound star Jack Bird will just pip Penrith’s Matt Moylan for the bench utility spot.

Daniel Tupou is a slight favourite to be named on the wing for NSW.

Manly’s Dylan Walker was impressive on the weekend against Gold Coast but his quest for selection is likely to fall just short.

Aaron Woods is ready to retain his front-row spot after returning from injury in last Friday’s match between Wests Tigers and Brisbane.

LIKELY NSW TEAM

1 James Tedesco

2 Blake Ferguson

3 Josh Dugan

4 Jarryd Hayne

5 Daniel Tupou/Brett Morris

6 James Maloney

7 Mitchell Pearce

8 Aaron Woods

9 Peter Wallace/Nathan Peats

10 David Klemmer

11 Wade Graham

12 Boyd Cordner

13 Tyson Frizell

14 Jack Bird

15 Josh Jackson

16 James Tamou/Andrew Fifita

17 Jake Trbojevic