Live: Hunt rules himself out of Origin, says Broncos replacement is ‘obvious’

After a 22-14 loss to South Sydney marked the fourth loss in five games for Brisbane, NRL great Johnathan Thurston questions if the Broncos have improved since finishing 12th in 2024.

The Queensland Maroons have lost Ben Hunt for the first State of Origin, but can breathe a sigh of relief the a key forward is still available.

Gold Coast Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has avoided being charges by the NRL’s Match Review Committee after being placed on report in last night’s 24-20 victory over the Newcastle Knights.

Fa’asuamaleaui was penalised for a high tackle on Newcastle prop Leo Thompson in the opening set of the match.

However, the MRC has decided not to charge Fa’asuamaleaui, who could have faced suspension and missed Game I of Origin.

The Canberra Raiders were forced into a forward pack change, with prop Corey Horsburgh ruled out with concussion.

Zac Hosking (number 15) will start at prop for the Raiders, with Simi Sasagi (number 19) joining the interchange bench.

For Canterbury, the suspension of Jacob Preston means Jaeman Salmon (number 13) will play second-row, while Kurt Mann (number 14) will start at lock.

Lipoi Hopoi (number 21) comes onto the bench.

Five-eighth Matt Burton (number 6) returns from suspension, meaning Bailey Hayward (number 17) will be an interchange player.

Here is the list of who is playing in the NRL this weekend.

Saturday, May 10

• 3pm: Canberra Raiders vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
• 5:30pm: St George Illawarra Dragons vs New Zealand Warriors
• 7:35pm: North Queensland Cowboys vs Penrith Panthers

Sunday, May 11

• 2pm: Melbourne Storm vs Wests Tigers
• 4:05pm: Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks

Completed

• Dolphins 20 defeated Parramatta Eels 16
• Gold Coast Titans 24 defeated Newcastle Knights 20
• South Sydney Rabbitohs 22 defeated Brisbane Broncos 14

— reporting by AAP

Ben Hunt has ruled himself out of State of Origin I after suffering the first hamstring injury of his long career in Brisbane’s 22-14 loss to South Sydney on Friday night.

The Broncos booked the 35-year-old playmaker in for scans in Brisbane on Saturday afternoon to determine the severity of his injury.

But even before meeting with the medics, Hunt was pessimistic about his chances of featuring in Billy Slater’s team for Origin I on May 28.

“I knew it wasn’t a cramp or something like that, it felt a bit more than that. I knew something was pretty wrong straight away. It definitely hurts,” he said.

“Whether Billy was going to have me in there again or not, I’m unsure, but it’s definitely disappointing to know that you’re definitely not in the picture.”

Hunt has been one of Queensland’s most consistent performers and has typically played as a back-up hooker at Origin level, with Slater now needing to look elsewhere if he wants cover for likely number nine Harry Grant, who is also on the comeback from a hamstring injury.

Reed Mahoney, Kurt Mann and Max Plath are options, or Slater could choose to play an additional half on his bench, presumably Tom Dearden.

The options for Hunt’s replacement as Brisbane’s five-eighth are less bountiful, although he said it was “pretty obvious” who the Broncos should replace him with.

Having served a nine-game ban after crashing his car while driving without a licence and under the influence of drugs, Ezra Mam is set to return to rugby league on Sunday.

The 22-year-old is expected to line up for Souths Logan Magpies in their rescheduled Queensland Cup season opener against Western Clydesdales in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon.

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Round 10 has had three excellent matches, with three more to come today.

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