Queensland forward Pat Carrigan left the Brisbane dressing rooms in a moonboot after their loss to St George Illawarra, amid fears an ankle injury could sideline him from State of Origin II. The Broncos lock will likely have scans on the left ankle he injured in the 30-26 loss on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium. Carrigan, who came off the bench in the Maroons’ narrow 22-20 loss to NSW in Sydney on Wednesday night, has played 13 Origin games in a row since his 2022 debut.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow He was solid off the bench in Sydney and it will be a major blow for Queensland if he is ruled out of game two in Melbourne on June 17. Carrigan played the first 32 minutes of the clash with the Dragons before being replaced. He was on an exercise bike on the sideline early in the second half and then went back on before lasting just 10 minutes. “It’s some sort of ankle sprain,”
Broncos coach Michael Maguire said. “Patty felt he was OK to go back out there, they assessed him and strapped him up, but you could just sense he was struggling a little bit.” The Maroons have options to replace middle forward Carrigan if he is ruled out. Reuben Cotter played second-row in Sydney but is equally at home in the middle. Queensland could use him as a middle and elevate Dolphins second-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, who was 20th man in game one. North Queensland second-rower Heilum
Luki is another option if they were to go down that path. Finefeuiaki and Luki are yet to make their Origin debuts. If the Maroons went with a straight middle replacement for Carrigan then Dolphins co-captain Tom Gilbert, Canberra warhorse Corey Horsburgh and Gold Coast prop Moeaki Fotuaika are all former Queensland players who could be called upon. Horsburgh was outstanding up front in the Raiders’ 26-12 win over the Cowboys on Sunday, when he ran for 165m from 18 charges. He was also defensively
solid with 27 tackles and just one missed. The Maroons selectors will pick the side after round 14 is completed this Sunday.
Pat Carrigan, State of Origin II, ankle sprain, Queensland Maroons, Brisbane Broncos, St George Illawarra, Suncorp Stadium, Reuben Cotter, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Heilum Luki, Tom Gilbert, Corey Horsburgh, Moeaki Fotuaika, June 17, Melbourne
Moonboot sounds serious. Hope he isn’t out for Origin like for real.
I don’t get it, it said he was strapped up and went back out but then he barely played after?? Like what even happened to the ankle if they thought he was ok.
Origin games always ruin guys with random injuries, I swear. If he can’t go, they should just pick whoever has the toughest legs, like put a prop in the middle and send it.
So he left in a moonboot after a loss… does that mean he’s done for the season? They keep saying ankle sprain but moonboot usually means broken or something. Also why is it called State of Origin II when it’s June 17, like isn’t that already too late? Either way Queensland is cooked if he’s out.