Queensland State of Origin coach Mal Meninga might not know until the weekend the make-up of his side to play NSW in game one in Sydney on Wednesday night.
The NRL’s Integrity Unit has been unable to interview Brisbane woman Katie Lewis who gave a statement to police on Wednesday, alleging South Sydney forward Ben Te’o punched her in the face last month, leaving her bleeding and with a fractured eye socket.
The unit is understood to have set up meetings with the woman only to have her cancel out on them.
Queensland police reopened their investigation into Lewis’ allegations after she made her statement on Wednesday, the day Te’o joined the Maroons in camp at their Coolum base on the Sunshine Coast.
He and injured Newcastle fullback Darius Boyd (bruised ankle) were immediately put on ice by Queensland officials concerned their media free-for-all with players could suddenly turn into a circus.
Meninga supported the decision to withdraw both players from interviews.
“They have had enough media scrutiny for a lifetime, especially one of them,” he said.
Te’o trained with the side on Wednesday while Boyd, who was confined to a moon boot on Tuesday night, was restricted to some boxing work.
Meninga said Te’o would continue to prepare until he received a directive from the NRL or the QRL advising him otherwise.
The whole situation has created an uneasy mood within the camp with the possibility Te’o might yet be stood down if police decide to lay charges in the next few days.
It also opens the door for police to come knocking and disrupt Meninga’s preparations should they want to question Te’o or Boyd who, along with Brisbane fullback Corey Norman, were in the Brisbane house when the 22 year-old woman claimed she assaulted.
It’s anything but ideal for Meninga with history showing the winner of game one – which is in Sydney – usually takes out the series.
Meninga though said he would not oppose any moves to sanction Te’o if that was the call.
Canberra enforcer Josh Papalii is on standby just in case while Melbourne flyer Justin O’Neill is Boyd’s shadow if his ankle injury fails to come good by the weekend.
Meninga is expecting Boyd to play but skipper Cameron Smith painted a less than positive picture rating him a only 50-50 chance at best.