NSW coach Laurie Daley is set to be forced into a forward pack reshuffle after it emerged the Warriors hold grave concerns after Mitch Barnett went down with a knee injury in Round 13.
The gun enforcer fell awkwardly in the 22nd minute of his side’s win over the Rabbitohs, grabbing at his knee before leaving the field and failing to return.
Veteran rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield revealed New Zealand officials are fearing Barnett’s season could be over, leaving a front row spot open in the NSW pack.
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“Just to get an update I spoke to Cameron George last night… he is almost convinced it is an ACL and it’s a shocking blow not just for NSW but for the Warriors,” he said on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“He is such a tough player. Payne Haas got all the wraps out of Origin I but I thought Barnett wasn’t that far behind him. It is a blow to NSW to go to Perth without him.”
So who could replace him?
Bulldogs gun Max King will likely join the run on side after a strong debut off the pine.
Storm enforcer Stefano Utoikamanu looms as the obvious option to take his spot on the bench after he was included in Daley’s extended squad for the series opener.
“I would expect Stefano (Utoikamanu) would come into the 17, that was the plan in Game I when Payne Haas was not available,” Rothfield said.
Elsewhere, Terrell May remains in the conversation after he was a shock exclusion, while a bolter has emerged in Keaon Koloamatangi.
The Rabbitohs gun has delivered three immense performances since shifting to prop, with his last two of those being 80 minute efforts in the middle of the park.
Against the Warriors, the 27-year-old scored to go with 182 running metres, eight tackle breaks, 34 tackles with only one miss and a line break.
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“Terrell May was the controversial omission last time but he has also got Keaon Koloamatangi to think about who has been sensational for Souths,” Rothfield said.
“I think he is probably the favourite to join the extended squad, he picked a 19 and a 20 last time.
“But you don’t like seeing ACL’s for any player and it’s a really bad blow for the Warriors and their premiership hopes.”
Meanwhile, league legend Matty Johns was also in Koloamatangi’s corner and called for him to make his second Origin appearance after a 2023 debut.
“I’d go Keaon,” Johns said on Sunday night with Matty Johns.
“Geese I like Keaon, today I thought he did some outstanding stuff.”
