State of Origin team updates: Haas in doubt; rookie prop called in; Moses set for NSW No.6

It feels like Origin stars are dropping like flies today but likely NSW bench forward Hudson Young appears to have come through this afternoon’s game fine as the Raiders powered to a 40-24 win over the Gold Coast.

Xavier Savage scored three tries and Matthew Timoko had a double as Ricky Stuart’s men proved a class above in Canberra.

Young scored a try himself and is the top-scoring forward in the league this year, with nine tries in 11 games, and is expected to be named in Laurie Daley’s NSW side.

Some potentially huge news out of Brisbane with the Broncos looking into a possible quad injury for superstar front-rower Payne Haas, a certain selection for NSW when fit.

The club is preparing to send Haas for scans and potentially delay Haas’s travel to Sydney to join Blues camp to do so, with more clarity on the issue to come once full medicals are completed at Broncos HQ tonight.

Haas played 55 minutes in today’s shock loss to the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium, with 17 carries for 174 metres, plus seven tackle breaks and 38 tackles, finishing the game and featuring in desperate last-minute plays as the Broncos tried to win the game at the death.

NSW staff have been told of Haas’s injury and at this stage are expected to name the star prop in the hope he can managed the issue while preparing for the series opener.

As reported by the Sun Herald, Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton is managing a groin complaint that kept him off the training paddock ahead of last Friday’s win over the Roosters. Crichton played the full 80 minutes without incident and is set to be picked for NSW.

But the Blues are keeping South Sydney centre Campbell Graham – who plays shortly against the Tigers in the last game of the round – on standby.

Broncos forward Patrick Carrigan will meet with a plastic surgeon on Monday to see to an awkward cut in his mouth on Monday, but is not considered to be in any doubt for Queensland. Selwyn Cobbo is in the same boat after receiving treatment on a wrist issue.

Queensland winger Murray Taulagi has picked up a calf injury and is out of Queensland Origin contention.

Taulagi was set to be selected ahead of Selwyn Cobbo for the Maroons but won’t be selected after suffering the injury in the Cowboys’ loss to Manly on Saturday.

Dramas for Queensland with reports Broncos and Maroons forward Pat Carrigan may have suffered jaw injury in Brisbane’s shock loss to the Dragons, while Selwyn Cobbo appeared to have suffered a possible wrist injury.

But Brisbane coach Michael Maguire said the pair would be fine. “They’re OK. Patty just had a bit of a split in his mouth.”

Meanwhile, the Titans may have thrown another possible contender into the Maroons’ fullback debate with AJ Brimson shifting to the back for today’s game against Canberra and promptly setting up the opening try. Kieran Foran has joined the Gold Coast starting side at five-eighth.

Or at least, that would’ve been the case if Brimson hadn’t already switched his allegiance from Australia (and Queensland) to England earlier this year.

The Dragons win an absolute stunner over Brisbane that had just about everything. Not least, the visitors scoring a couple of tries with a man in the bin – that’ll keep Michael Maguire happy.

Two stunning long-range tries for St George Illawarra with Jacob Liddle, yes Jacob Liddle, scoring a runaway 80-metre effort and then a dozen passes that went from one side of the field to the other and back again for the Dragons to score.

30-26 it ends up after Jesse Arthars scored in the 76th minute with his bare backside showing but the Dragons just held on. Origin-wise, Selwyn Cobbo finished the game but was nursing a wrist throughout the second half. No worries for Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan and Val Holmes.

Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses is set to edge out Jarome Luai for the NSW No.6 jersey and partner Nathan Cleary in the halves for the Blues.

Luai is set to close out the round with the Wests Tigers on Sunday night, but sources with knowledge of information regarding the NSW team selection told this masthead that Moses is the preferred option leading into the final game of the weekend.

Moses has been in good form since returning from a foot injury a few weeks ago and was one of NSW’s best players in the two games he played in last year’s series.

While Daley is a big fan of Luai, the returning Blues coach believes Moses’ kicking game and control will take pressure off Cleary and allow him more time and freedom on the ball.

As it stands: Predicted NSW team

Fullback: Dylan Edwards is the frontrunner to get the No.1 jersey given his combination with Cleary.

Wingers: With Jacob Kiraz out of contention with a calf injury, Zac Lomax and Brian To’o appear to have the inside running. Tom Trbojevic’s fitness is a concern for Daley, who is worried about the Manly superstar fullback’s form and fitness. A final decision will be made later in the day.

Centres: Latrell Mitchell needs to get through Sunday night’s game against the Wests Tigers to claim the left centre position. He will partner Stephen Crichton in the centres for the Blues. Campbell Graham is on standby.

Five-eighth: Mitchell Moses is the preferred candidate over Jarome Luai, who has one last chance to sway selectors on Sunday night.

Halfback: Nathan Cleary will wear the No.7 jersey.

Props: Payne Haas and Mitch Barnett are certain selections. Spencer Leniu will be on the bench. The final prop position is a fight out between Canterbury’s Max King and Melbourne’s Stefano Utoikamanu after Jacob Saifiti picked up an injury over the weekend.

Second-rowers: Angus Crichton, Liam Martin and Hudson Young will be in the team. Young just has to get through Sunday’s game against the Titans. Daley is contemplating using Martin in the middle to get Hudson Young into the game.

Lock: Isaah Yeo will wear the No.13 jersey.

Utility: Connor Watson will win the utility spot on the bench.

Brisbane and St George Illawarra are going at it up at Suncorp Stadium by the way, and Ezra Mam has just scored in his return from a nine-week suspension for drug driving.

It was the type of try you expect from the Broncos five-eighth, stepping through defenders from half a chance, and the Broncos are up 12-4 going into halftime.

Mam also laid on Brisbane’s first four-pointer with a very questionable (read blatantly) forward pass for Gehamat Shibasaki to score, with the Dragons just hitting back via Tyrell Sloan.

Dragons back-rower Dylan Egan has suffered a suspected ACL rupture as well to add to the visitors woes.

Daly Cherry-Evans is Queensland’s captain and halfback and is heading straight to Brisbane as his Manly teammates fly home from Townsville.

No real surprise here given DCE has been the Maroons skipper and No.7 since 2019. But his middling form of late had raised the suggestion Tom Dearden could replace him at the scrumbase.

Billy Slater never bought into that chat and Dearden is almost certainly his No.14 with Ben Hunt out injured. Canterbury’s Kurt Mann is being sized up as a second mobile body on the bench.

Slater did go with two smaller bodies for Origin I and it worked a treat, Selwyn Cobbo came in and played almost the full game once Reece Walsh was belted into a different postcode by Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

Tom Dearden and Kurt Mann, are both playing to the standard of this footy team,” Slater said on The Sunday Footy Show.

“And if they were wearing a Maroons jersey come Wednesday week I don’t think any Queenslanders would be concerned.”