Will Hopoate is set for an Origin recall just three months after returning to the game following a two-year hiatus on a Mormon mission.
Injuries to brothers Brett (shoulder) and Josh Morris (knee) on Wednesday night are expected to open the door for Hopoate to return to the Blues three years after his last outing for NSW.
There were fears on Thursday night that Josh Morris would be sidelined for 6-8 weeks with a posterior cruciate ligament injury.
Will Hopoate in action during game two in the 2011 series. Photo: Getty Images
Greg Bird (suspension) and Andrew Fifita (ankle) are expected to come back into the side, but back-rower Boyd Cordner is rated no chance of overcoming his ankle injury in time for the potential series-winning match on home soil in three weeks.
After a slow start to the season, Hopoate has hit his straps at Parramatta in the last month. He is almost back to the lofty standard he set in his final year at the Sea Eagles on the club's charge to premiership glory.
Hopoate was brought into the NSW camp last week as 19th man, but given the grim predicament for both Morris brothers, the former representative star looks certain to feature in Laurie Daley's back line for game two at ANZ Stadium on June 18.
His Eels teammate and Wednesday night's man of the match, Jarryd Hayne, wouldn't speculate on the make-up of the Blues side for game two but said Hopoate would be up to the challenge if selected.
"He's going great, and that shows by him being here in camp," Hayne said.
"If it comes to [it], he'll handle it well. Being out of the game for two years, this will obviously be a huge feat. To see him come back is awesome. He's a great player and someone I really enjoy playing inside of."
Daley wouldn't be drawn into the selection conundrums confronting him over the next fortnight, but said the form of Hopoate was something he would monitor closely.
"He is a kid that I just want to see play well," Daley said of Hopoate.
"In terms of replacements, I haven't really thought of anyone. If they're [injuries] as bad as what we think they are ... yeah [changes will be made]. It's sort of what happened to us last year too.
"We can't get carried away with last night. We have to keep working hard and whoever comes in, if there needs to be changes, they need to work hard. Our blokes were courageous. They were spent. They had busted shoulders, busted legs, busted arms and they just kept giving. Certainly the most courageous performance I have seen."
It would have been difficult for Daley to justify bringing Bird back into the side after the heroics at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, but given the Blues' injury toll he will be forced to make changes.
Bird does not expect to be an automatic selection, but was hopeful of being reinstated after serving a two-game suspension for a dangerous throw charge on Bryson Goodwin.
"I hope I'm there," Bird said.
"I don't expect anything. There were 17 blokes who worked their arses off. I'm not going to think I'm going to walk straight in and push someone out of a spot. I'm sure Laurie will look over the game; hopefully he'll find a place for me. If not, I'll be supporting the boys all the way."
With Anthony Watmough likely to be out for the series, and injury clouds over half a dozen Blues players, Bird and Fifita – if he recovers from an ankle injury – are likely inclusions.
Manly's Jorge Taufua is an option on the wing if Brett Morris is ruled out, and Dragons fullback Josh Dugan may come into calculations as another wing option.
Replies
Dugan an option at wing? Really?
That is funny.
At this rate GI will be fullback.
I actually believe Hoppa could do a great defensive job on GI if needed. He is far stronger than he looks and those 1 on 1 strips of the ball would be fantastic to watch on GI!
100% he is worth the money, and this time next year he will be ready for it. At the moment he still misses a few tackles and 3 missed tackles in an Origin game is game over
Thats a good point. However being so down on troops for game 2, you would think Qld may look to a Barba or Milford at the back. Otherwise they might go for Tonga at centre with GI to the back
Will Hopoate will be defending against Will Chambers. Billy Slater confirmed to be missing 4-6 weeks, team selections are in 2 or 3 weeks.
Although there are also reports that Milford could be blooded to keep the left edge intact, Milford would get raped, he's not experienced enough to take on such responsibility but I'd rather GI go to fullback from a NSW point of view.
He is a paid Parramatta player. Is it unreasonable to expect guys to be made available to play for their side even if picked for Origin.
The way its going, there's 26 rounds, 2 byes and 3 rest games. Guys are getting paid for the season and only putting in 19 rounds of footy for their clubs which is disgusting. That means that a guy earning $600k will earn $31500 per appearance.
That's not a great return on investment for any club.
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