Former NSW coach Phil Gould has backed young gun Ethan Strange to play five-eighth in Wednesday night’s State of Origin series opener, with Mitchell Moses set to be ruled out due to a hamstring injury suffered on Monday.
Strange was named on the six-man bench for game one, but with Moses now expected to be sidelined, the 21-year-old looks destined for an expanded role.
Nine’s Danny Weidler first revealed on Monday afternoon that Moses would undergo scans for the injury, with Matt Burton called into Blues camp.
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Mitchell Moses. Getty
“Mitch felt a minor tweak right at the end of training when he was doing extras. He walked off without any trouble, but it started to get sore afterwards,” long-time Blues team doctor Nathan Gibbs told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“A minor strain is normally a three to four-week return to play. I can’t see him being fit.
“Mitch said he’s had calf issues – he was ruled out last year in Origin camp because of his calf – but told us he’s never actually had a hamstring injury.”
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Frank Ponissi said a decision on Moses’ fitness would be made on Tuesday morning, but all signs point towards Strange slotting in alongside Nathan Cleary in the halves.
Speaking on Nine’s 100% Footy on Monday night, the Bulldogs boss revealed when he found out Burton would be parachuted into the team and backed Strange to fulfil a prediction from last season delivered by Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.
“We got a call this morning, Matt Burton was just about to run out and train with his teammates and in the end, we had to tell him he was in the Origin side, so he’s in a car and up there [to camp],” Gould explained.
Matt Burton. NRL Imagery
“He’s in the 19 from what I understand, that’s what I believe. He’s the halves coverage and Casey McLean would be the outside backs.
“He [Strange] is ready for it. This time last year, Ricky Stuart predicted it – he said he would go on the Kangaroos tour and he would play for NSW.
“He’s obviously got the physicality and mentality for it. They [Queensland] have got a debut halfback as well in Sam Walker, so it’s even stevens.”
Strange has cemented himself as one of the game’s best young talents since debuting for the Raiders three years ago. He took out Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year in 2025.
Cleary told 100% Footy that the debutant is “keen as” and had been getting plenty of reps at training in case one of the halves went down injured.
Ethan Strange. Getty
On the flip side, it’s a major blow for Moses, who told media at the weekend that he was determined this would be the year he makes it through the entire series.
“It’s been no secret that I obviously haven’t had the best run of injuries the last few years,” he said.
“I’ve been feeling really good at the moment, and coming into this Origin series I’ve been feeling really good. So, touch wood I’m injury-free this series and can punch it out.
“I’m excited for that challenge.”
Moses will undergo scans on Tuesday to determine the severity of his injury.