The Blues have been hit with an injury blow, but it’s not a player who needed assistance from the NSW medical staff.
According to 9News’ Danny Weidler, new coach Michael Maguire “cut his head open” whilst walking from the NSW Centre of Excellence to a team photo shoot.
He was reportedly speaking to Broncos enforcer Payne Haas before bumping his head.
The blow could reportedly require stitches.
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Despiute the gash Maguire soldiered on and completed the Blues’ promotional shoot on Tuesday.
The news comes amid the Maroons’ own pre-Origin scare, with gun hooker Harry Grant absent from training due to illness.
That is according to AAP, who are reporting No.9 Ben Hunt trained on his own at Red Hill on Tuesday.
Grant has been named as Queensland’s utility on the bench, having played 80 minutes against the Sea Eagles in Round 13.
HAAS OPENS UP ON EARLY MADGE IMPACT
New South Wales enforcer Payne Haas has confirmed that brand new Blues coach Michael Maguire has made a strong first impression, as Origin camp ramps up in Sydney.
Haas revealed that Maguire has been lightly keeping touch with a number of incumbents this year, doubling as a mentor.
The former Tigers coach has the unenviable task of denying the Maroons a third-straight series victory.
“He’s been good,” Haas said, addressing Maguire’s early impact as Blues coach.
“I’ve stayed in communication the last few months and yeah, he’s been nothing but good to me.”
The Broncos front-rower also added that his on-going communication with Maguire wasn’t strictly Rugby League-centric.
“It (wasn’t) really about footy, just checking in with how I am and all that,” he continued.
“And yeah, I just really appreciate that from Madge.
“We’ve been in for one day now and I guess we’ll know a bit more about Madge once the week goes on.
“Yeah, he’s a good dude.”
Haas appeared in good spirits, amid on-going personal matters.
He’s firmly focused on the job at hand for Wednesday week and setting up the opportunity to win back club-level bragging rights.
“At the Broncos, you’ve got Kevvie and stuff – they’re all pro-Queenslanders,” he said.
“The last two years (the Maroons) have won it and, obviously, are giving it to me.”
Haas will start up front for New South Wales, spearheading a pack that features workhorse Tom Trbojevic, who’s been handed captaincy duties, and debutant Cam McInnes.
Walsh explains special bond with Slater | 09:45
GOULD’S KOROISAU THEORY
Former New South Wales coach Phil Gould believes Api Koroisau’s recent injury issues may have counted against him as the Wests Tigers star was a surprising omission from the Blues squad for Origin Game I.
Blues coach Michael Maguire opted to name Cowboys star Reece Robson at hooker as Koroisau was left out of the squad entirely.
The call came as somewhat of a shock given the strong form Koroisau has shown in a struggling Wests Tigers side this season.
However, Gould pointed to Koroisau sustaining a back injury in the Tigers’ loss to the Broncos in early May as a potential reason why Maguire left him out.
“I think the night that Api left the field with a back complaint and was still in doubt the following week, that sort of resonates in an Origin coach’s mind,” Gould said on Nine’s 100% Footy.
“How do I replace that? How do I cover for that? If he’s at the stage in his career where that’s gonna be a problem to him, it could come against him.
“It could only be one per cent of the whole issue, but it’s enough for the coach to think I need a younger, sturdier version in that area.”
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Although Gould suspected Koroisau’s absence may have been injury-related, rugby league legends James Graham and Chris Lawrence were stunned at Maguire’s decision to exclude him.
Graham labelled it a “strange decision” on Triple M’s Sunday Sin Bin, adding Koroisau’s “deception in and around dummy-half would be so valuable”.
Lawrence took to social media to air his verdict.
“Just saw the NSW Origin side, is that a gee up or has Api actually been left out?” Lawrence wrote on X.
“No disrespect to Reece Robson I think he is a great player and should be in the side with Api.
“But if Api isn’t the best 9 in NSW and on par with Harry Grant as the best 9 in the game, then I probably have my eyes painted on.”
Haas aims for ‘bragging rights’ over QLD | 02:25
EDWARDS REVEALS CLASSY TEDESCO TEXT AFTER MADGE’S BRUTAL CALL
Blues fullback Dylan Edwards has revealed one of the first people to contact him after his maiden State of Origin call up was the man he replaced in the New South Wales side — James Tedesco.
Speaking to media as he entered the Blues’ State of Origin camp, the 28-year-old said Tedesco fired him a text message after Michael Maguire named his squad on Sunday evening.
“He sent me a message. He was one of the first blokes to send me a message, which was all class,” the Penrith fullback said.
“He just said congratulations, enjoy the week. Origin footy is the best footy.”
He also added: “I have the utmost respect for him [Tedesco].”
Both men played together for the Australian Kangaroos in the 2023 Pacific Championships. In that series, Mal Meninga found room for both top-level fullbacks in his starting backline, opting for Tedesco at fullback and Edwards on the wing.
However, new Blues coach Maguire went a different route, opting to name three-time premiership winner Edwards at fullback and leave Tedesco, the incumbent NSW captain, out of the side altogether.
It’s a major selection decision from the former Rabbitohs and Tigers coach given Tedesco has featured in 22 straight Origin matches since his 2016 debut.
Despite Tedesco’s ever-presence in recent years, Maguire revealed on Monday morning the series represents “the right time to give Dylan an opportunity.”
“He’s ready. I think we all believe he’s been ready for a long time,” the Blues coach said.
Having performed as one of the game’s premier fullbacks over the last few seasons, Maguire revealed it was 60 seconds against the Sharks in Round 12 that ultimately won Edwards his Origin berth.
“I was there at the game the other night and there was a ball kicked down [and] he [Edwards] was on one side of the field, and it could have been a 40/20, and he sprinted to the other side of the field,” Maguire said.
‘I have matured since the last series’ | 01:25
“That effort that I saw from him to save the 40/20 and then get in place to take the carry down the other end of the field and put the opposition under the pump really solidified my thoughts that this is where we’re going.”
The 40/20 attempt from Sharks five-eighth Daniel Atkinson referred to by Maguire occurred in the 44th minute. Penrith’s sixth try of the night, scored by bench forward Liam Henry, came two minutes later.
The Penrith fullback’s resume is full of similar tireless plays over the years, including a Scott Sattler-esque tackle on Parramatta’s Bailey Simonsson in the 2022 NRL Grand Final.
In 2024, Edwards has paired his tireless work rate with increased attacking output, which has been a major boost for Penrith in Nathan Cleary’s absence.
On top of averaging 203 metres per game, Edwards has 13 line break assists, fifth-most in the NRL, and his seven try assists, the fifth most amongst fullbacks this season.
When quizzed on whether he feels prepared for Origin, Edwards noted he’s “played in quite a few big games at club land. That puts you in good stead for this arena.”
“I’m very lucky. I’m grateful for the opportunity. It feels good,” he said.