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Billy Slater could be forced into a reshuffle of his Maroons backline for the State of Origin decider with Xavier Coates in doubt with a suspected hamstring injury.
Coates suffered a suspected hamstring injury trying to score a late try in the Storm’s 16-6 win over the Raiders in Melbourne.
The Maroons winger did not celebrate the try and appeared to immediately mouth “hammy” to teammate Jahrome Hughes.
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Coates left the field with a hamstring injury and is in doubt for State of Origin III. Getty
To make matters worse, the try was disallowed by the Bunker after replays showed he’d knocked the ball on in the field of play before sliding into the in-goal.
He went straight up the tunnel after coming from the field.
“He looked in real concern,” Michael Ennis said in commentary for Fox Sports.
“All of a sudden Selwyn Cobbo comes right back into those calculations having been left out of game two.”
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Coates grimmaced after scoring the try. NRL Images
It’s Coates’ second hamstring for the season. He missed two weeks after a similar injury in the Storm’s big win over the Rabbitohs in round eight.
“Until he gets a scan we’re not going to know the extent of the injury, but I don’t think it’s too good,” coach Craig Bellamy said.
“I wouldn’t think he’d be available (for Origin), but I don’t think the medical staff will make that prediction until they see a scan.”
Coates looked to be fighting back tears as he went up the tunnel.
“It was probably made a little bit worse given it was his 50th Storm game. He’s in there pretty upset at the moment,” Bellamy said.
It was an uncharacteristically scrappy performance from the Storm, who made 18 errors on a wet night in Melbourne. The Raiders made 17 as cameras caught both coaches at different stages fuming.
Josh King, Shawn Blore and Jack Howarth were the Storm’s try-scorers, while Kaeo Weekes was the lone Raider to get in the books.
