State of Origin teams: Maroons bolter Reece Walsh charged by NRL match review committee

He’s been talked up as a Maroons bolter on the back of a sizzling start to his career, only to hit with an untimely suspension.

Warriors young gun Reece Walsh’s hopes of becoming a Queensland Origin bolter have been dashed by the NRL’s match review committee.

Walsh has been hit with a grade one striking charge following Friday night’s loss to North Queensland.

He will miss one game with an early guilty plea or risks a two-game suspension if he fights the charge and loses at the judiciary.

Walsh, 18, has made a sizzling start to his NRL career, raising speculation he could force his way into Paul Green’s Maroons team for next Wednesday’s Origin series-opener.

But that appears unlikely now, with Walsh facing suspension that would rule him out of contention.

CAM IN A CRISIS: MAROONS SET FOR SELECTION STUNNER

Queensland will issue an SOS for Cameron Munster for Origin I as the crisis-torn Maroons face losing key duo Kalyn Ponga and Felise Kaufusi for the series opener due to injury and suspension.

New Queensland coach Paul Green will unveil his first Maroons team on Monday and it is understood the injured Munster will be named in the No. 6 jumper for Origin I on Wednesday week.

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Munster hasn’t played NRL since May 6, when he injured his foot against the Rabbitohs, but Green is prepared to give last year’s Origin player-of-the-series every chance of spearheading the Maroons’ title defence.

Cameron Munster is set to be named in Queensland’s team for game one.

The depleted Maroons are already without suspended duo Josh Papalii and Josh McGuire, while star pivot Munster and Harry Grant (hamstring) are racing the clock to avoid joining Lindsay Collins (knee) in the casualty ward.

Kalyn Ponga is in grave doubt for Origin 1 with his groin injury worse than first feared. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

Now there is more drama for the Maroons after veteran back-rower Kaufusi was hit with a grade-one offence for allegedly tripping Broncos hooker Jake Turpin in Melbourne’s 40-12 victory on Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium.

Meanwhile, Ponga’s frustrating injury battle has continued with the Knights ace succumbing to a groin complaint, ruling him out of Sunday’s clash against Manly in Newcastle.

Queensland and NSW have a history of giving proven Origin performers until the eleventh-hour to recover from injuries and Green said he is not hitting the panic button over the Maroons’ latest saga.

“We’ll wait and see what happens, we still have time,” Green said of his injured contingent.

“It’s not ideal preparation.

“There’s a few guys who will have had a limited preparation but on the flip side, some of our injured guys are experienced, so that helps somewhat.

“We’ll see how the weekend pans out.”

Should Kaufusi submit an early-guilty plea, he will miss one match – ruling him out of Origin I.

His only hope of appearing for Queensland lies with a successful defence at the NRL judiciary should he and Melbourne choose to fight the charge.

Munster’s Storm teammate Grant was originally considered unlikely to play in the series opener, but the classy rake has made good progress on his hamstring injury and is increasingly confident of getting the green light.

Felise Kaufusi’s experience would be a big loss for the Maroons. Picture: Brett Costello.

In a further boost for the Maroons, Grant’s Storm colleague Christian Welch, who missed Melbourne’s rout of the Broncos with a minor knee injury, insists he is on track to play in Origin I.

“There is nothing structurally wrong and I should be good if picked,” Maroons prop Welch said.

“I got a knock about a month ago on my knee and have been carrying it for a bit. I just wanted to be on the safe side.”

Of Grant’s chances, Welch added: “He ran well (on Thursday). I ran with him in rehab (at Storm training) and I think he has a really good chance of playing.

“If both of us are in the squad we will be good to go.”

Munster has a Lisfranc injury, which can sideline players for four-to-six months. Leading Brisbane medico Brien Seeney, who runs the popular NRL Physio social-media account, believes Munster has a slight hope of playing Origin I.

“A Lisfranc injury is an injury to the ligaments, bones or joints of the midfoot, and was more commonly known in the past as a midfoot sprain,” he said.

“It is an injury known for a gradual recovery process, with rehab often progressing slower than expected.

“The fact Munster commenced running with two weeks until Origin I does give him a chance of being fit for selection.

“But everything would have to go perfectly between now and then, which still leaves him in significant doubt considering the nature of Lisfranc injuries.”

Originally published as State of Origin teams: Maroons bolter Reece Walsh charged by NRL match review committee