Xavier Coates is unlikely to play for Queensland in State of Origin 3 after sustaining a severe hamstring injury while playing for the Melbourne Storm against Canberra. The winger had to leave the field due to the injury, which reoccurred from an earlier issue this year. Storm coach Craig Bellamy expressed concern, noting that Coates would undergo scans to determine the extent of the injury, but the outlook appears bleak. NRL Physio Brien Seeney suggested Coates might need four to eight weeks to recover, considering the severity and his history of hamstring problems.
Xavier Coates off with a suspected hamstring strain. Has a recent history of hamstring injury – missing 2 weeks earlier this season.
Considering top end sprint mechanism, recent history & functional limitation – moderate to high grade strain looking likely (4-8 weeks recovery). pic.twitter.com/v9mRQbxge0
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 29, 2024
If Xavier Coates is unavailable for State of Origin 3, Queensland coach Billy Slater may consider Selwyn Cobbo as a replacement in the backline. Cobbo was initially selected on the bench for Game 1 but missed out on Game 2 due to minor injuries and a need for rest.
Coates’ injury has prompted criticism from fans about his participation in the match against the Raiders, which occurred just three days after Origin 2 in Melbourne, especially considering the Storm’s strong position on the NRL ladder. While Storm coach Craig Bellamy opted to rest captain Harry Grant after Origin 2, he felt Coates was fit to play. This decision has raised questions among some fans about the necessity for Coates to participate given the Storm’s current standing in the competition.
