Isaiya Katoa has become a crucial part of the New South Wales (NSW) squad as the focus shifts to Mitchell Moses and his hamstring injury ahead of Origin II training. Moses was included in the 21-man Blues team on Monday, with the goal of securing a series victory against Queensland on Wednesday week.
One player who is expected to miss the camp from Tuesday morning is Stephen Crichton due to an AC joint injury that requires weekly painkilling injections. Meanwhile, Sydney Roosters’ rugby-bound winger Mark Nawaqanitawase is set to join the Blues squad after scoring a hat-trick in his first game back following an ankle injury. However, it remains uncertain how fit Moses will be. The Parramatta playmaker experienced hamstring tightness two days before the first game, which ruled him out of the Eels’ match against the Bulldogs on Monday. Moses completed a solid training session at Parramatta’s Kellyville headquarters early on Monday as part of his recovery.
Despite this, the Blues have shown concerns about Moses’ fitness by including Katoa in the extended squad. The 22-year-old is scheduled to train with the Blues until Thursday before returning to the Dolphins for their game against the Sydney Roosters on Friday. Coach Laurie Daley plans to finalize his starting 13 and extended bench by as early as Tuesday morning. If Moses is not fit, Ethan Strange is expected to step into the starting side, with Katoa serving as the backup halves option on the bench.
Moses has not played since Magic Round three weeks ago, but the Blues medical staff are aware that he managed a full week of training before the injury setback. Crichton was ruled out late Monday, with Daley closely monitoring the Canterbury captain during his match against Parramatta on Monday afternoon. Crichton had previously indicated he might not be fit for Origin II. Nawaqanitawase performed well for the Roosters in Canberra, but his role within the squad remains unclear, and he will need to return to club duty at the end of the week if he is selected as the 20th or 21st man.
Daley expressed confidence in bringing Katoa into the squad, stating that he would handle the responsibility if Moses could not play. “His best football is in front of him, but he’s a leader at his club, and if he gets an opportunity, he won’t let anyone down,” Daley said. “He has a great kicking game, his organisational skills are great, he digs deep into the line and has a magic kicking game. And he’s a good communicator.”
Wests Tigers co-captain Api Koroisau returns to the Blues side, replacing Blayke Brailey, who is out with a broken arm, while Jacob Saifiti makes way for destructive prop Payne Haas, who missed the Origin opener due to a knee injury. When asked if the Tigers’ 68-0 loss to Penrith on Sunday might delay his Origin comeback, Koroisau smiled and said, “That’s a big yes.”
Katoa, 22, could not stop smiling as he arrived at the Blues’ team hotel at Sydney Olympic Park. He expressed excitement about being “rubbing shoulders with some of these blokes” – including one of his idols, Nathan Cleary. “We saw on Sunday the clinic he put on [for Penrith], and that’s been his form all year, and being a Penrith junior, I looked up to him, and I still do now – I love watching him play and the way he goes about his work,” Katoa said. “Hopefully I can get in his ear a little bit and take some notes from his book. It’s pretty surreal being in camp. I’m ready to soak it all in.”
Haas spoke about his return to the Blues: “To get the call from ‘Loz’ [Daley] means the world, and I can’t wait to do my job for the state.” He added, “I was proud of the boys, I was proud to be from NSW [when watching game one], and to see the fight in the boys, that’s a true blue. We need to hold on to that, and go after it in game two. It would mean the world to win the series. I’ll be present now, and enjoy the week with the boys.”
Haas was not concerned about Queensland’s selections, including the recall of Broncos teammate Reece Walsh. “I don’t really care to be honest,” he said. Centre Casey McLean suffered an ankle injury during Penrith’s match but was cleared of any serious damage late on Sunday. He had a noticeable limp outside the team hotel but assured that the injury posed no risk. “It feels good; it was scary at first, but the scans came back all good,” McLean said.
Meanwhile, Queensland has recalled Broncos fullback Reece Walsh to the extended bench. Cowboys back-rower Heilum Luki has also been named, while Walsh’s Brisbane teammate Ezra Mam drops out. Maroons coach Slater, one of Queensland’s greatest fullbacks, said he would keep the reasons for selecting Walsh private but backed the star Bronco to perform. Walsh is essentially cover, should starting fullback Kalyn Ponga suffer an injury early, and Slater said it was “the best thing for the footy team” that he take his place in a bench super-sub role.
