NSW coach Ricky Stuart’s worst fears were confirmed on Wednesday with Newcastle hooker Danny Buderus ruled out of the State of Origin opener with Achilles tendinitis.
Former Blues skipper Buderus was a certainty to return to the side for the first time since 2008 after rejoining the Knights following a three-year stint with Super League side Leeds.
However, the 34-year-old will be sidelined for up to a month meaning he’ll miss the chance to face Queensland on May 23 in Melbourne.
“The positive is the scans showed no tear and it’s a matter of now managing the tendinitis,” Newcastle’s performance director Jeremy Hickmans said in a statement.
“With a break from training and playing, Danny is hopeful to return after the bye.”
The news is the latest blow for Stuart, who’s already lost the services of Kurt Gidley, who he’d earmarked for the utility role off the bench, with a dislocated shoulder.
Canterbury skipper Michael Ennis has been the incumbent hooker since the third game of the 2009 series, but is believed to have slipped behind the man he replaced that year – Robbie Farah.
Farah has not featured since a poor showing in the second match of 2009 in Sydney, when his gamble to play with a rib injury backfired.
However, the 28-year-old has been in fine form this season and was outstanding in the City-Country clash in Mudgee last month, dovetailing superbly with NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce.
Despite this, doubts have continued to rage about Farah’s supposed suitability for Origin, with NSW great Steve Roach questioning his potential inclusion.
Former NSW skipper and selector Laurie Daley witnessed Pearce and Carney at close quarters when coaching Country, and was impressed with how they performed alongside one another.
“They were outstanding, particularly in the first half,” Daley told AAP.
“The same also goes for Mick Ennis and Ryan Hinchcliffe. All three offer different skills and have different strengths and Ricky will know in his mind what he wants to do.”
However, he disagreed with Roach’s comments that Farah was not an Origin-type player.
“Blocker (Roach) is entitled to his opinion about Robbie, but I wouldn’t have a problem with him being included – all three of them would do a job for NSW.”
Melbourne utility Hinchcliffe is also in contention for a spot in the side and was part of Stuart’s emerging Blues squad earlier this year.
Stuart’s predecessor Craig Bellamy has endorsed the 27-year-old’s inclusion either in Gidley’s or Buderus’ spot, and said he’d spoken to Stuart about the former Canberra man.
“To my way of thinking, he’d be an ideal guy for that bench spot,” the Melbourne coach said.
“Obviously, he can’t play fullback or five-eighth or halfback like Kurt can, but he can certainly play hooker and in the back row and, at a pinch, he could slip into the centres.
“They had an emerging Blues camp just after Christmas and I know Rick was really impressed with how he held himself through that camp so Rick would obviously be watching him in his games.
“I think he’s be a real good fit for them.”
