The sight of Daly Cherry-Evans on crutches on Thursday would have been enough to make Queensland selectors contemplate reaching for the panic button.
Especially after the rest of the Maroons’ “spine” threatened to fracture ahead of their must-win State of Origin II clash in Sydney on June 18.
However, Cherry-Evans allayed fears he would succumb to a knee complaint suffered in Wednesday night’s 12-8 loss to NSW at Suncorp Stadium and even backed himself to play Sunday’s NRL clash for Manly.
The Sea Eagles playmaker raised eyebrows when TV cameras filmed him hobbling around the Maroons hotel on crutches with his left knee heavily strapped.
It would have been a worrying sight for Maroons selectors after hearing on Thursday that skipper and No.9 Cameron Smith (ankle, two weeks) and fullback Billy Slater (shoulder, three weeks) may struggle to be fully fit for Origin II.
They were already reeling from the news that No.7 Cooper Cronk (broken arm) is gone for the series, out for up to three months after going down in the first 10 minutes of Wednesday night’s loss.
Slater suffered a grade-two AC joint sprain to his right shoulder.
And Smith is out for one to two weeks after leaving Brisbane on Thursday with a low-grade right ankle sprain.
However, Smith will travel with his NRL team Melbourne to Townsville to be assessed by Storm medical staff ahead of Saturday night’s clash with North Queensland.
The man who will again attempt to fill Cronk’s shoes in Origin II, Cherry-Evans, downplayed concerns he would be added to the Maroons’ injury list.
“I was a bit worried about it. It just needed a night to settle so I’m hoping its all right,” Cherry-Evans told reporters.
Still, a major Origin II overhaul looms for reigning champions Queensland.
Broncos backrower Sam Thaiday (calf) should be fit to return, ensuring some nervous moments for out-of-sorts Maroons incumbents Chris McQueen and Josh Papalii.
Brisbane prop Josh McGuire and Gold Coast Titans giant David Taylor may also be called upon to add some punch off the bench.
Canberra fullback cum pivot Anthony Milford may be seen as either a bench utility option or even considered as a replacement for Slater at fullback depending on the Test No.1’s recovery.
Sydney Roosters No.9 Jake Friend has already been earmarked as Smith’s understudy after being named Queensland’s 19th man for game one.
