Warriors prop Mitch Barnett suffers knee harm vs Rabbitohs, video, State of Origin choice

NSW coach Laurie Daley shall be sweating on the health of considered one of his most necessary gamers after Mitch Barnett limped off towards the Rabbitohs.

Barnett was an integral a part of the aspect’s win within the State of Origin opener and was on back-up duties on Sunday afternoon for the Warriors.

Mid-way by way of the primary half, the hard-working front-rower landed awkwardly whereas trying to make a deal with on Jayden Sullivan and instantly clutched at his leg.

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“Mitch Barnett hasn’t moved,” Steve Roach mentioned on Fox League.

“It doesn’t look real good here for Barnett. It’s a shock when that sort of thing happens. A bit of a twist and you think the worst, but he’s up on his haunches now.

“He is as powerful as teak. He will not wish to go away the sector.”

Barnett was down for more than a minute as one of the club’s trainers attended to him, before eventually limping off behind the dead-ball line and letting out an expletive.

It was later confirmed by sideline reporter Jake Duke that he would not return to the field and would likely undergo scans.

Speaking post-game, coach Andrew Webster said that there was no initial indication of how serious Barnett’s injury is and how long he would be sidelined.

“He is positively carried out a knee harm of some description,” Webster said.

“We’re ready for scans, it is the boring outdated factor – however we truthfully do not know what it’s proper now. There’s completely different grades to every completely different harm and till you look below the hood, you truthfully do not know.

“He’s in good spirits, we’ll get back to New Zealand tonight and work it out tomorrow.” 

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Dallin Watene-Zelezniak opened the scoring for the guests at Accor Stadium, earlier than Keoan Koloamatangi put the Bunnies on the board.

Koloamatangi has been in large kind this season and was unfortunate to overlook out on a spot for the Origin opener, however may come into calculations with Barnett sidelined.

“I know it’s only early, but if he didn’t play, I know a player who could and is in good form – Keaon Koloamatangi,” Braith Anasta mentioned at half time.

“In that first half, he came up with that barnstorming try and has been great for Souths.” 

Souths took the lead by way of Alex Johnston within the twenty seventh minute, earlier than Rocco Berry narrowed the margin lower than 5 minutes later.

Latrell Mitchell was taken off for a head harm evaluation earlier than half-time, however was deemed a class two by the unbiased physician and cleared to return.

With the star fullback off the sector, the Rabbitohs conceded one other attempt by way of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, which noticed the Warriors take a 14-12 lead.

That momentum continued after the break, with increase back-rower Leka Halasima and in-form halfback Luke Metcalf each scoring solo tries to place the Warriors additional forward.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck continued the ache for Souths, who began to leak factors after winger Bayleigh Bentley-Hape left the sector with a leg harm.

A trademark slice of magic from Latrell stored the sport alive with 20 minutes to go, throwing an ideal cut-out move to Johnston for his second attempt of the afternoon.

Johnston accomplished his hat-trick from a chunk of damaged play, citing 200 profession tries and edging nearer to the all-time document of 212 held by the nice Ken Irvine.

Simply because the comeback appeared on for the cardinal and myrtle, Tuivasa-Sheck made it a double within the nook to provide the Warriors some respiratory room with six minutes to go.

Mitchell stored it alive – once more – for Souths with 4 minutes remaining, crashing over from shut vary and changing his personal attempt to make it a six-point ball recreation.

Nevertheless, the second-half comeback led by the skipper fell agonisingly brief.