Napa hands Walters another injury concern

RUGBY LEAGUE: Queensland are sweating on the fitness of Dylan Napa after it was revealed the prop arrived in camp for Sunday’s State of Origin II clash in Perth with a fractured wrist.

The Maroons said Napa underwent scans onmonday after complaining of a sore hand suffered in the Bulldogs’nrl loss to Sydney Roosters last weekend.

“Dylan has a small break in one of his wrist bones and we’re providing treatment to give him every chance to play,” Maroons doctor Matt Hislop said yesterday.

Napa has played with the injury in recent weeks but re-injured his hand in the opening exchanges of the match against his old club.

The 26-year-old noticeably favoured his right hand throughout the clash but still finished with 23 tackles and 10 runs from a 49-minute stint.

While Napa has managed to play with the injury in recent weeks there were fresh concerns about the seriousness of the latest setback.

The Queensland forward pack has already been ravaged by injury with Jai Arrow and Joe Ofahengaue sidelined through injury.

Napa has been promoted to the starting side having started Origin I off the interchange bench.

The Maroons have uncapped Melbourne prop Christian Welch as part of their extended squad.

Maroons coach Kevin Walters gave little away aboutnapa’s injury concerns when quizzed this week, opting instead to heap praise on his prop.

“I just feel the time is right for Dylan Napa to make his mark at this level,” Walters said.

“It’s really disappointing to lose Jai because his workrate and attitude typifies everything about this Queensland team.”

– Michael Carayannis with AAP