Xavier Coates out for State of Origin; Why Reece Walsh decision backfires on Broncos.
Xavier Coates has been ruled out of State of Origin 3 for Queensland following a hamstring tear he sustained during Melbourne Storm’s match against Canberra on Saturday night. Coates exited the field in severe pain after chasing a kick and abruptly stopping due to the injury.
The Melbourne Storm and Maroons winger required assistance to leave the field, re-aggravating a hamstring issue that had previously sidelined him earlier this year. His distress was evident as he was helped off, and by Sunday, it was confirmed he wouldn’t recover in time for the Origin 3 match in Brisbane on July 17.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy stated that Coates would need to undergo scans but acknowledged the prognosis seemed bleak for the 23-year-old. On Sunday, the Storm confirmed Coates had suffered a low-grade hamstring tear, sidelining him for 6-8 weeks.
“Obviously, it’s not great. He’s had a few issues,” Bellamy remarked on Saturday night. “We won’t know the exact extent until he gets a scan, but it doesn’t look good. I wouldn’t expect him to be available for Origin, but we’ll wait for the medical staff to confirm after the scan.”
Brien Seeney, known as ‘NRL Physio,’ had earlier speculated that Coates might face up to eight weeks out due to his history of hamstring injuries and the high-speed nature of the incident. Seeney suggested on social media that considering the type of injury, Coates might be dealing with a moderate to high-grade strain, predicting a recovery time of 4-8 weeks.
Queensland coach Billy Slater is likely to select Selwyn Cobbo to replace Coates in the backline for Origin 3. Cobbo, who was on the bench for Game 1 but missed Game 2 due to minor injuries and the need for rest, seems a probable choice.
Coates’ injury has led some fans to question why he played against the Raiders, especially since it was only three days after Origin 2 and given the Storm’s strong position on the NRL ladder. While coach Bellamy chose to rest captain Harry Grant post-Origin 2, he deemed Coates fit to play, sparking debate among fans considering the team’s first-place standing.
