Kotoni Staggs Ready for Origin Amid Blues Concerns
Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire has confirmed that suspended centre Kotoni Staggs is “definitely” ready to play in the State of Origin series. He believes that Staggs’ two-week absence from the NRL could actually work in his favor, giving him time to recover and refocus.
The recent injury scare involving Latrell Mitchell on Friday night, along with the underwhelming form of Stephen Crichton, has created an opportunity for Staggs to make a return to Laurie Daley’s NSW squad. Mitchell was forced to leave the Rabbitohs’ 32-10 loss to the Dolphins, but coach Wayne Bennett suggested it was just cramp and not related to his previous back injury. Bennett remains confident that Mitchell will be fit for the Origin opener on May 27 in Sydney. If he is available, Mitchell is a certain starter in the Blues lineup.
However, the bigger concern for the Blues appears to be the form of Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton. In Friday night’s 38-16 defeat to the Sharks, Crichton had a mixed performance. He showed glimpses of his best form during his 150-game milestone match, scoring a try after a 65-metre burst down the right. However, he was also caught out of position, allowing Will Kennedy to score a crucial try for the Sharks.
Crichton’s misplacement left him stranded as the Sharks fullback threw a dummy and ran through a gap to score. This moment prompted a sharp critique from Maroons legend Corey Parker, who said on SEN radio: “That’s a centre that’s out of form and low of confidence.” This is a concerning reality for Daley to consider when making his final selection for the Blues squad on Monday.
Staggs Could Edge Out Crichton
There is a growing perception that Staggs has taken the lead over Crichton for a NSW centre spot, despite his recent suspension. Maguire believes that the break has benefited Staggs, who has fully earned the chance to return to the Origin arena for the first time since 2022.
“I think he’s been excellent and he’ll be ready to go,” Maguire said. “To be honest, the rest has probably helped him in some way because he’s been battling a little bit of a foot injury. But he’s all fine. He’s out there training really well at the moment. So I know if Tones gets the opportunity he’ll represent that jersey really well.”
Staggs made his Origin debut four years ago in Game 3, which remains his only appearance to date. However, he played a crucial role in the Broncos’ premiership victory last year and has been a consistent defensive force for Brisbane this season following a strong start to the year.
“He’s obviously a big player, but someone like Kotoni can come up with special plays and big moments too,” Maguire added. “They’re the sorts of players in Origin games that are special … and he’s obviously one of them. I got to experience that with Latrell. I know they’ve got plenty of depth in what they’ll select from and it’s going to be one hell of an Origin series.”
