NSW Coach Laurie Daley Faces Tough Decision
NSW coach Laurie Daley will need to make at least one change for State of Origin 2 after Blayke Brailey suffered a suspected broken arm during the match against Manly on Friday night. The Cronulla hooker was taken from the field after reeling out of a tackle in the second half.
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon confirmed that it appears to be a fracture, stating, “Hopefully it’s a clean (break) and not displaced. That would minimize the time on the sideline.” He added, “Still trying to work out whether he should’ve played him (after Origin 1) but he was delivering for us. He’s such a player, but he’s not going to be out forever.”
Brailey had expressed his desire to play in the upcoming game, especially as it marks Cam McInnes’ 100th game for the club. “Five minutes after Origin he texted and said he wanted to play and he wanted to play for this bloke,” Fitzgibbon said. This situation presents an opportunity for other players, including Pep (Hohepe Puru) and Bez (Jayden Berrell), who have been ready and have delivered for the team.
Brailey made a significant impact in State of Origin 1 when he came off the bench for NSW. His performance was crucial in the Blues’ comeback from a 20-6 deficit to win 22-20. With Queensland down a man due to Kalyn Ponga’s send-off, Brailey tormented the Maroons around the ruck and provided a try-assist for Nathan Cleary, helping the Blues close the gap to within four points.
Potential Impact on the Rest of the Series
The return to play timeline for a fractured forearm can vary, typically ranging between four and eight weeks. Players like Jarome Luai and Jahrome Hughes have returned in three weeks, while Jacob Preston, who recently suffered the same injury, is expected to miss six weeks. If Brailey faces a similar prognosis, he could miss the remainder of the State of Origin series.
This opens the door for the return of Api Koroisau, who hasn’t played Origin since 2023. Koroisau was in contention for Game 1 until he received a three-game suspension. Warriors hooker Wayde Egan is also a potential candidate, as he was reportedly in the frame for Game 1.
Daley has several options to consider. He could choose to play Reece Robson for the full 80 minutes without carrying a back-up hooker. However, with the six-man interchange bench, it’s likely that Daley will select two No.9s for the upcoming game.
A Setback for Brailey
This injury is a cruel blow for Brailey, who recently broke his record streak of 139 consecutive games, the most in NRL history. His appearance in Game 1 marked his Origin debut. The setback comes at a challenging time, as he was just beginning to establish himself in the state of origin competition.
With the series now facing uncertainty, the focus will shift to the other players who may step up to fill the void left by Brailey. The next few weeks will be crucial for determining the final line-up for State of Origin 2.
