Three Origin stars injured as Roosters dust Panthers 32-6
A LITANY of Origin stars ran into injury at Allianz Stadium and when the dust settled the Roosters had a big win over the high-flying Panthers 32-6.
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THE best news to come out of Allianz Stadium was the image of young Sydney Roosters sensation Latrell Mitchell sitting up in the dressing rooms.
Minutes earlier Mitchell, who turns 21 today, left the field on a medicab wearing a neck brace.
On a night his team issued a warning to their NRL rivals with a comprehensive 32-6 belting of Penrith, the Roosters’ huge win was overshadowed by a series of worrying injuries to key State of Origin players from both NSW and Queensland.
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Reagan Campbell-Gillard is out of State of Origin II next Sunday night and will miss the next eight to 12 weeks after he suffered a broken jaw — while Roosters enforcer Dylan Napa will also be out of the Queensland side after suffering a syndesmosis ankle injury.
Tyrone Peachey may also have a case to answer from the NRL’s match review committee after copping Luke Keary with a wild shot, while James Maloney was hobbling late in the game but said he has no doubt he would be fine.
But young Mitchell is in doubt after he was heard to let out a sickening yell of pain after NSW teammate Nathan Cleary accidentally fell on his neck in a tackle.
Trent Robinson was not sure if Mitchell would be available for Origin next Sunday night.
“He has just gone for scans,” Robinson said.
“(It) was fairly positive when I walked back in the sheds. I think he is doing well.”
“Obviously I can’t give that (answer).
“I actually haven’t seen him yet.
“I am only getting second hand feedback so we will probably have to wait on that.”
Play was stopped for several minutes as medical staff from both teams gathered around the young superstar taking every precaution.
But there were good signs when Mitchell was seen soon after sitting up in the dressing room, although he appeared in extreme discomfort.
“It is not good at all when you see someone go down like that,” Roosters and NSW captain Boyd Cordner said.
“Straight away I was close to him.
“He as saying it was his neck.”
NSW teammate James Maloney added: “Hopefully it is not too bad. Obviously no one ever wants that sort of stuff to happen to anyone.”
Campbell-Gillard is no chance to be playing next Sunday night after running into the shoulder of Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves early in the game.
“It is unfortunate for him and obviously for us but it looks like he has a broken jaw,” Anthony Griffin said.
Maloney added: “He will be shattered.
“We will have to get around him and support him.”
With Brad Fittler and Kevvie Walters set to name their team for Game II this weekend, there was also concern for North Queensland back Michael Morgan after he suffered a bicep injury in the loss to the Warriors.
Normally players get a 10-day rest between Origin games.
But this year the game will be played on a stand-alone Sunday next week — giving players less time to recover.
It all overshadowed a tremendous performance from the Roosters who handed the competition favourites a massive reality check.
Waerea-Hargreaves was enormous for the Roosters playing the full 80 minutes in the absence of Napa and also Sio Siua Taukeiaho who didn’t play to attend the birth of his baby boy.
Waerea-Hargreaves ran for a massive 224m and made 35 tackles.
Trent Robinson labelled it the Roosters best performance of the season.
“I said to the boys after the game that I thought it was our best performance so far.
“But it has laid a platform for where we need to go.
“I don’t think it was out of the box. It was consistent, quality intense footy from 17 guys so it is something we can repeat often.”
Maloney had a forgettable night, gifting the Roosters an early intercept that led to the first try and from there the Roosters never took their foot off the throttle.
The Roosters finished with five tries to one, with three scored inside the opening 15 minutes.
Roosters 32 (B Ferguson 2, I Liu, Z Tetevano, D Tupou tries, L Mitchell 3, Blake Ferguson 2 goals) def. Penrith 6 (D Whare try, James Maloney goal).