Blues duo cop tough injuries
BRAD Fittler’s hopes of carrying an unchanged NSW side into State of Origin II appear dashed with Latrell Mitchell suffering a neck injury and Reagan Campbell- Gillard a suspected broken jaw.
Mitchell was stretchered from Allianz Stadium on a medicab after he injured his neck in a Nathan Cleary tackle in the Sydney Roosters’ 32- 6 win over Penrith last night.
Mitchell was talking as he was driven from the field and raised his arm to the ground as he neared the tunnel.
Meanwhile Campbell- Gillard suffered a suspected broken jaw following a hit from opposing prop Jared WaereaHargreaves, where his shoulder bounced up off the Panther’s chest.
“I went up and saw Reagan. He’s not in a good way,” Fittler told the Nine Network.
“The doctors said he can clench his jaw which is a good sign ... But there is a lot of pain underneath.
“When I was speaking to Reagan he was in a lot of pain. It’s a bit swollen. They’ll have scans tomorrow morning so we’ll know the depth of the injury.” Penrith confirmed the 24- year- old would not return, giving him just nine days to recover for next Sunday’s Game II at ANZ Stadium as NSW attempt to wrap up the series.
The front- rower was solid on debut for NSW in their 22- 12 win at the MCG last week, as he and David Klemmer weathered the early storm before the Blues pulled away.
If he is ruled out, Tariq Sims and Trent Merrin would likely come into calculations.