Origin coaches fear the worst after spate of injuries
Kalyn Ponga could be one step closer to a Queensland State of Origin debut after a night of representative carnage in the NRL.
Maroons officials will spend this morning sweating on the results of scans on Michael Morgan's left biceps and Dylan Napa's ankle, with both in serious doubt for Game II in Sydney next Sunday.
Morgan was injured trying to tackle a runaway Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in North Queensland's loss to the Warriors in Townsville, with the club unsure of the full extent of the injury.
Morgan deputised for veteran ace Billy Slater in Queensland's series-opening loss in Melbourne, and the Maroons are hopeful the Storm fullback will return for the June 24 clash.
However, Slater this week withdrew from Melbourne's match against Cronulla as he continues to battle a hamstring strain, meaning he will have to come into Origin II without having played for more than a month.
Greg Inglis and Valentine Holmes also shape as other fullback options, although 20-year-old Ponga is seen as a long-term option in the spot.
"We've got some options there," Maroons coach Kevin Walters told Fox Sports on Friday night.
"Kalyn Ponga is one guy everyone's been talking about, they're similar style players."
Even if Ponga doesn't wear the No.1 jersey, any Morgan injury could also open the door for the Newcastle youngster to battle it out with Anthony Milford for the utility spot on the Maroons' bench when Walters names his squad on Monday.
Meanwhile, prop Tim Glasby appears closer to a Maroons return after Napa didn't return from twisting his left ankle early in the Sydney Roosters' flogging of Penrith.
It prompted fears of a syndesmosis injury, and coach Trent Robinson admitted it was unlikely he'd be fit for Origin II.
"Watching him run out on the field, usually it would hold up a bit better there if it was a one-weekend," Robinson said.
Glasby and veteran Matt Scott have been floated as potential call ups by Maroons officials in the past week even before Napa's injury, but Scott sat out the Cowboys' loss to the Warriors on Friday with ongoing neck and back problems.
Brisbane forward Joe Ofahengaue shapes as another option if Walters opts to go with youth, after he received the backing of Broncos coach Wayne Bennett.
Blues also suffer blows
It wasn't just the Maroons who copped bad news on Friday night, with NSW prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard suffering a suspected broken jaw and Latrell Mitchell stretchered off after hurting his neck in a Nathan Clearly tackle.
Brad Fittler remains hopeful prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard can overcome a jaw injury, but how long that hope lasts remains to be seen.
The Penrith front-rower will undergo scans this morning to determine if he has broken his jaw as suspected, following Penrith's loss to the Sydney Roosters on Friday night.
The 24-year-old left the field during the first half and did not return, after copping the shoulder of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in a legal hit after it had bounced up off his own chest.
Penrith medicos immediately feared the worse, but Fittler — who was at the game and spoke to Campbell-Gillard — was still hanging onto some small chance his starting prop would be fit.
"The one thing the doctor did say is that he can close his jaw," Fittler told the Nine Network.
"I've spoke to Reagan twice now and he's said it hasn't moved yet, and apparently that's a good sign.
"He said it is very, very sore, and the doctor did say he thinks there's some kind of damage.
"I think you can have a sore jaw without it being broken, I'm just crossing my fingers for him.
"He's finding it hard to talk and he's mumbling a bit. Once again there is most probably a bit of fright involved as well."
Campbell-Gillard's injury was just one in what turned into a dramatic Friday night of NRL action just nine days before the crunch Sydney clash.
Blues teammate Latrell Mitchell injured his neck in the same game, but there are real hopes he may only be stiff for a couple of days after he confirmed via social media that the injury was not serious.
Five-eighth James Maloney was also limping late, but claimed after the game it was a sciatic nerve and it wouldn't be a long-term problem.
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