The return of a Rabbitohs superstar comes at a perfect time for Michael Maguire and the NSW outfit who will desperately attempt to salvage the 2024 series.
Meanwhile, a host of stars have also been named in Round 15 that will come into selection calculations for the Blues, including Dylan Edwards.
Elsewhere, the Knights have an interesting situation unfolding regarding who wears the No.1 jersey.
Read below for the big talking points out of Round 15’s Team Lists!
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MURRAY’S TIMELY RETURN
Cameron Murray would have been one of the first names on Michael Maguire’s NSW teamsheet if he wasn’t sidelined with a hip injury.
He hasn’t taken the field since Round 9, and is returning early after initial fears were he’d be out until after Game II of the Origin series.
However, he’s now been named on the bench and veteran prop Tom Burgess is confident he will be fit and firing if selected.
“He looked like he’s not missed a beat out there today on the field. He’s obviously very professional in how he goes about his recovery,” Burgess said to NCA Newswire.
“He’s got back out there probably ahead of time. He might be a welcome addition back in for us.”
So where does Murray fit?
Murray’s main position is lock, with Sharks skipper Cameron McInnes winning the battle to wear the No.13 jersey for the series opener.
His main competition, Isaah Yeo, played off the bench and interestingly the pair both played 47 minutes at Accor Stadium.
Both of those stars were solid, so if Murray gets through Round 15 unscathed, he is likely to join the middle rotation and shift Hudson Young off the bench who played the least of any player in the game.
While Young’s an impressive ballrunner on an edge, Murray can play at hooker, in the middle and on an edge, even in the centres at a push.
He’s one of the NRL’s premier forwards and Maguire knows just how good he is, handing him his first grade debut way back in 2017.
There’s also injury concerns elsewhere, with Liam Martin named on the Panthers’ extended bench due to a foot injury he suffered in the series opener.
Should Murray get through South Sydney’s clash with the Broncos, he’s a strong chance of being called into the Blues side to salvage the 2024 series.
YET ANOTHER BLUES FULLBACK BATTLE
Dylan Edwards has been named for the Panthers at fullback, meaning he’s once again in the frame for Origin selection.
A quad injury saw him sidelined for the series opener, with Michael Maguire sending an SOS call to James Tedesco to fill his place.
Now, with both players on the field, a No.1 shootout will take place in Round 15.
Edwards, having been picked for the series opener, look to have the inside lane and will likely get a chance to make his Origin debut.
But did Tedesco do enough to make it an even playing field coming into the last game before a crucial Game II clash?
He ran for 173 metres, scored a try and broke 6 tackles, however he also missed a crucial tackle which led to Ben Hunt’s second try.
For the eight Immortal Andrew Johns, speaking after the series opener, it comes down to combinations and who will wear the No.7.
Mitchell Moses is a strong contender to replace Nicho Hynes at halfback, and if the Eels gun is picked, Johns believes Tedesco could remain.
“I don’t know. I really don’t know (who the Blues pick at fullback in Game II). It’s going to be a big decision for Madge,” Johns said on Channel Nine.
“Tedesco absolutely tried his heart out tonight. If you’re going to go with combinations, obviously there’s going to be a lot of talk about the halves, whether they pick Nicho again and Jarome (Luai) or whether they go with Mitchell Moses.
“Mitchell Moses and James Tedesco played a lot of footy together as young fellas, they debuted together at the Tigers.
“So it probably depends on how Michael Maguire sees his team attacking and how they’re going to play in Melbourne.”
The Roosters play the Eels in Round 15, which could prove as a huge fixture in the scope of Maguire’s Origin selections.
Meanwhile, Edwards will have the last chance to leave an impression on the NSW coach, playing on Sunday afternoon against the Knights.
‘Started to think I was sacked!’ | 01:50
BIG NSW INJURY BOOSTS
There were countless players under injury clouds heading into the series opener, and Cameron Murray and Dylan Edwards’ Round 15 returns were incredibly timely.
However, there’s a whole host of other stars ready to make their case.
Bradman Best has been named to feature for the first time since he was sidelined due to a hamstring injury in Round 11, ruling him out of Game I.
He’s a red hot contender to take over from Joseph Suaalii, after he was handed a mammoth four-game suspension for his ugly shot on Reece Walsh.
Best, being somewhat of a shock selection, made his mark on the Origin scene in 2023, scoring two tries, to go with 99 running metres and 1 linebreak.
He’s competing with Latrell Mitchell, Matt Burton and Jesse Ramien for that vacant spot, but has returned in perfect time to make a case for selection.
Elsewhere, Liam Martin, who is a shoe-in to be picked if he’s fit has been named on the extended bench for the Panthers.
Initially Ivan Cleary explained following Penrith’s win over the Sea Eagles that Martin wouldn’t likely be good to go in Round 15.
However, he stressed he will be fit for the Blues if called upon, having endured painkilling injections to stay in the game during the series opener.
He’s an outside chance of taking the field, but the fact he’s named is a huge boost for the Blues.
Elsewhere, booming backrower Haumole Olakau’atu has also been cleared of serious injury and has been named for the Sea Eagles.
He played only the first quarter of Manly’s clash with Penrith, suffering a calf complaint that has been cleared of any tear or strain.
Maguire will be counting his lucky stars Anthony Seibold made the decision to put one of his best players on ice, and he didn’t feature in the second half.
He will also be available and will be desperate to make his mark in Game II, playing only 24 minutes and running for 76 metres.
KNIGHTS’ FULLBACK BATTLE
It appears 20-year-old Fletcher Sharpe has edged ahead in the battle to wear the Knights’ No. 1 jersey over fellow young gun David Armstrong.
Sharpe made his NRL debut in the loss to the Storm over the weekend and impressed with a try, 124 metres and a willingness to take the game on.
“That’s a hell of a debut. It’s not an easy place to make your debut and the team (Storm) that they are,” coach Adam O’Brien said after the game.
“Fletch did a great job and he should be really proud… He didn’t look out of place.”
Armstrong was Newcastle’s starting fullback for five games after Kalyn Ponga suffered a Lisfranc injury, scoring five tries with the Knights winning four of five.
However, Sharpe was given his opportunity when Armstrong missed the Storm clash with a quad injury.
Armstrong has been named in the reserves for the game against Penrith. He may return to the side via the wing if Sharpe continues to play well, but it appears he’s lost out on the fullback spot for now.
O’Brien hinted that having Sharpe at fullback gives the Knights side more variety in attack.
It’s also worth noting that the Cessnock junior was ahead of Armstrong in the pecking order, however was also injured when Ponga went down, thus giving Armstrong his passage into first grade.
“We were too one out last week but right from the get-go (Jackson Hastings, Jack Cogger) and along with young Fletcher and his position out the back, we had a lot more options this week with our attack and it sort of showed,” O’Brien said.