Blues handed huge Origin boost after two-word revelation amid sad Mitch Moses news
Brian To'o has been cleared to play for NSW in next Wednesday's State of Origin Game 2 after a telling two-word revelation at Blues camp on Saturday. The news is not so good for Mitch Moses though, with scans confirming the severity of a calf injury that has dealt the Blues a hammer blow to their hopes of wrapping up the series with another win in Perth.
To'o sent a massive scare through Blues camp on Thursday when he suffered a fresh hamstring injury, prompting NSW to call up Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz as injury cover for the Penrith flyer. Coach Laurie Daley fuelled the fears around To'o after revealing that his recovery had not progressed as quickly as NSW medical staff had hoped.
But after sitting out the bulk of Friday training with the Blues, To'o trained with the team on Saturday before being cleared to fly out to Perth later in the day. To'o spent part of the warm-up consulting with NSW team physiotherapist Kenny Michalopoulos, separately from his teammates.
The four-time premiership-winner then joined in for the opposed session against the NSW U19s side and ran without any complications. He was briefly substituted out to rest and replaced on the left wing by Wests Tigers winger Luke Laulilii but was heard telling the Blues physio towards the end of the session that he "feels good", in two words that will come as huge relief for the team.
Brian To'o has trained with the Blues today & has been cleared to play in Origin 2 after dealing with a hamstring issue.Means Jacob Kiraz will also be released from NSW camp to play for the Bulldogs this weekend. pic.twitter.com/ENtoye52ZL
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 14, 2025
Daley was prepared to leave it until after Saturday morning's training session to make a call on To'o. And the positive development means the NSW winger will take his spot on the Blues' charter flight to Perth, which departs Sydney Airport on Saturday afternoon.
"He's ready to rock," five-eighth Jarome Luai said prior to Saturday's session. "He's one of the best wingers to play this game of rugby league. He's a big piece in this puzzle." Luai was called into the NSW starting side to replace Moses, with Daley backing his combination with former Penrith teammate Nathan Cleary after selecting the Tigers half ahead of 18th man Matt Burton, who has been superb in the No.6 role for Canterbury this season.
Blues right winger Zac Lomax also threw his backing behind To'o, who scored a try and ran for a game-high 225 metres in the Origin opener. His strong carries from the back helped lay the platform for NSW's 18-6 win and the Blues will be hoping for more of the same in Perth as they look to clinch back-to-back series triumphs.
"He'll be ready to go. He's a professional, he gets himself ready and he's played a lot of games here (for NSW)," Lomax said about To'o. "We love having Bizza in the team, he's been an unbelievable asset... His courage in the back of the field, his effort areas are unbelievable too.
"The best thing for 'Biz' is he wants to get his team forward at the back of the field. That's massive and that's what Origin's about. Since I've been able to play with him, that's just the thing that I admire about him, the way that he gets us forward."
If the Blues are to win the series, they will have to do so without Moses, after scans confirmed his calf strain would rule the playmaker out for up to six weeks. With Game 3 in Sydney less than four weeks away, it means the Eels skipper is next to no chance of playing any further part in the series.
RELATED:
Fans rage over 'ridiculous' Bunker drama amid star's horror blow
Calls for immediate change amid apparent NSW rule breach
Nathan Cleary comes clean amid rumour around Mary Fowler
It's also a massive blow to Parramatta's hopes of lifting themselves off second-last spot on the NRL ladder. Moses may not return to action until as late as round 21, in a devastating blow to Parramatta's hopes of making a late charge in coach Jason Ryles' first season at the helm.
with AAP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Leap of faith: Olyslagers soars to gold in Paris
Moments after leaving her rivals in her wake in the Diamond League yet again, Nicola Olyslagers set the bar even higher. Australia's high-jumping royalty leapt to gold under the Parisian sky on Friday, rising over 2.00m to claim back-to-back gold medals on the world's premier athletics circuit. It was her second jump that made the difference, relegating Ukrainian world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh to second and compatriot Eleanor Patterson to bronze. At the top of her game tonight 🔥Nicola Olyslagers 🇦🇺 makes it another winning performance as her best jump of 2.00m gives her victory in Paris in the women's high jump.📸 Marta Gorczyńska for Diamond League AG#DiamondLeague 💎 #ParisDL 🇫🇷 — Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) June 20, 2025 But despite her seventh success overall after her most recent win in Stockholm, Olyslagers is not entirely happy. "Tonight was great, it was the first time we jumped so late (at night), so for mindset it can be difficult," she said. "I'm very thankful for another two-metre jump, but I really want a personal best, so we keep training." The NSW jumper has her sights set on equalling or bettering her own national record of 2.03m, one of the goals motivating her for future meets. The dual Olympic silver medallist believes one way of improving is by getting stronger. "I tend to have very strong jumps in the first five jumps of the competition and then it slowly goes down. Potentially, I need to work a lot more on my muscles to stay strong as I'm running towards the bar." Opening her competition at 1.91m, the double world indoor champion says entering any later may not be worth the risk. "1.91 is very high! We need to work to find the best possibility, or some more training so I have the endurance to give my best at the end." Compatriot Patterson's third-place finish (1.97m) was her third Diamond League podium of 2025 and the Victorian is closing in on the two-metre barrier. In the women's 1500m, Linden Hall finished fourth in 3:57:63 to prevail in the domestic battle including Victorians Georgia Griffith (4:01:36) and Abbey Caldwell (4:01:86). Kenya's Nelly Chepchirchir won the race in 3:57.02. Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino outfought Salwa Eid Naser to win the women's 400m, while Grace Stark set a personal best to outgun Tobi Amusan in the women's 100m hurdles. Dominican Republic's Paulino needed a season's best time of 48.81, a new meeting record, as the world champion came from behind to pip Bahrain's Naser, who took silver at last year's Olympics. Nigeria's world record holder and 2022 world champion Amusan settled for second as the 24-year-old American Stark led from the start to win in 12.21 secs, knocking one tenth of a second off her personal best. Next stop in the Diamond League, which offers significant world ranking points, is in Eugene, Oregon, on July 5. with Reuters
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Sam Kerr's teaser sends fans wild despite sad omission as Matildas favourite returns
Sam Kerr appears to be nearing a return after sharing footage of her back in training despite being left out of Joe Montemurro's Matildas squad for his first-game in charge. There is plenty of excitement around the Matildas with new coach Montemurro naming a large 33-strong squad for games against Slovenia and Panama. Interestingly, 14 A-League Women players joined the squad but Women's Super League stars and current captain Steph Catley, forward Caitlin Foord and midfielder Katrina Gorry will not feature in the four-game window having taken leave after a long season. However, Kerr was once again among the absentees having suffered setback during her ACL rehab the other week. Kerr has not played football in more than 16 months after tearing her ACL during training for her club side Chelsea. And earlier this month, it was revealed Kerr underwent surgery on a separate injury. Little is known about her recovery timeline, with Kerr and partner Kristie Mews recently taking a break and holidaying in the off-season. However, the Matildas superstar handed fans an update having posted a photo of her back training and running with Chelsea during training. Although she was once again excluded from the Matildas squad with fans increasingly interested over when she will make a comeback. The Matildas superstar has been undergoing her recovery and was a hope to line-up for Chelsea, before their record breaking Women's Super League season came to an end. Although this didn't come to fruition with the plan for Kerr to remain in England and continue her recovery with Chelsea. 🥹🥹 — jurídico sam kerr (@m4yaramonster) June 19, 2025 Light at the end of the tunnel for next season 😍😍😍 — ℜ u k ǝ K v ǝ l l 🇬🇧🇨🇦 (@Ruke_kvell) June 19, 2025 When is Sam Kerr going to return to playing football? — The Australian's pie chart creator (@Elfvandel20) June 20, 2025 While Kerr remains out, Mackenzie Arnold and Hayley Raso both return from injury. The Tottenham winger was missed by the Matildas in recent games with her creativity a major loss for the side. Montemurro is looking to improve the Matildas and find some results with Australia's national women's team dropping to their equal-worst position on the FIFA rankings. The World No.16 side has struggled in the last 12 months having been knocked out in a disastrous Olympics and SheBelieves Cup campaign. "When you have this amount of time, you can start to infiltrate some good ideas and make a statement in terms of the way we want to play," Montemurro said. "We still want to win football matches. We still want to show you who we are as a footballing nation. But more importantly, to really instil some identity, and really instil some belief in this team that you know going forward."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
'It's only match one' says Itoje after Lions mauled by Pumas
A disappointed British and Irish Lions team will set off for Australia on Saturday after suffering a 28-24 loss against Argentina in Dublin (Paul Faith) The British & Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje brushed off Friday's defeat against Argentina in Dublin, saying his side will "live, learn and get better". The Lions, who leave for a three-Test tour of Australia on Saturday, were outplayed in the first half and, after a second half resurgence, went down 28-24. Advertisement Bundee Aki and Tadhg Beirne both went over the Pumas line and the Lions were also awarded a penalty try but the visitors replied with three tries of their own including one for fly-half Tomas Albornoz who finished with 18 points. It was the first opening tour match loss since 1971 but there was much to build on as the team sets off on Saturday for Australia. Seventeen players were not considered by coach Andy Farrell because of their presence in domestic competitions last weekend or, in the case of Toulouse's Blair Kinghorn, this weekend. "We weren't as consistent as we would have liked to be," Itoje told Sky Sports. Advertisement "We only showed glimmers of what we can do. When we were on it, we looked good, we just need to do it more consistently. "We want to be more aggressive but we are building. It wasn't quite that, we will live, learn and get better." The Lions, who come together every four years as a team drawn from the best players in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, chose to play Argentina, ranked fifth in the world rather than a scratch team like the Barbarians to give themselves a stern test ahead of Australia. "Argentina showed us where we are lacking," said Itoje. "I am happy we had a hard-fought game. We live and learn. This is only match one." Advertisement Farrell admitted that his side, who have only been together a short time, have much to do before their next game against Western force in Perth on June 28. "You can't win a Test with that error rate," he said. "We lost enough balls in that game for a full tour, throwing balls that weren't on. "There was good and bad throughout. We were just a little bit off, I take responsibility for that. "I hope we are better off for that. We will keep building for the Test matches." - Under pressure - The Lions, however, were under pressure from the start as the Pumas went on the attack from the kick-off, Albornoz stroking over a penalty in the fifth minute. Advertisement The Lions then had a try ruled out when Luke Cowan-Dickie spilled the ball forwards as he reached for the line but Fin Smith levelled with a penalty. The Pumas hit back straight away as Ignacio Mendy stepped in off his wing, wrong-footed Duhan van der Merwe and slid through for the try. The Lions had a second try, this time from Sione Tuipulotu, ruled out before his centre partner Bundee Aki barged through for their opener. Albornoz knocked over two more penalties to make it 14-10 as the clock ticked towards the red. The Lions had time to restart and had a chance to regain the lead before the half-time whistle as the Pumas coughed up possession. Advertisement The Pumas, though, quickly retrieved it, attacking down the right and opening the door for Albornoz to skitter through under the posts for their second try of the half. He added the conversion to take a 21-10 lead at the break. The Lions began the second half strongly and picked up a penalty try when Puma prop Mayco Vivas came in from the side of a maul to prevent it going over the line, collecting a yellow card in the process. Shortly after, the Lions were in front, a bullocking run by prop Ellis Genge producing chaos in the Argentine defence and allowing Irish lock Tadhg Beirne to crash over. Just before the hour, the Pumas were back in front when Connacht's Santiago Cordero beat Marcus Smith in a sprint to the line for the try that sealed the game. bsp/ea
