Broncos star Reece Walsh is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines with a fractured cheekbone, and should he fail to be fit in time for Origin I, Wayne Bennett is backing Jye Gray to perform strongly if handed a Queensland jersey.
Broncos officials confirmed on Sunday morning that Walsh would undergo surgery after suffering the injury in the win over the Gold Coast on Saturday night.
Billy Slater will pick his first Maroons’ team in six weeks, around the same time Walsh is expected to return. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has played fullback for Queensland and would be the next choice, but Gray has been in irresistible form for Souths. Game one of the 2026 interstate series will be played in Sydney on May 27.
At the very least, Gray and his blistering speed make him a genuine Maroons bench option.
“Of course he’s up to it, he’s playing at a high level every week in the NRL; if you can play at the level he can play at in the NRL, he can certainly play Origin,” Bennett said.
“Origin is an extension of what they already do, they just have to be a bit quicker and skilful. But Jye answers that question every week.
“He’s up to it if he was chosen.”
While Slater is spoiled for choice with fullbacks, so is his NSW counterpart, Laurie Daley, when it comes to his options in the centres.
Casey McLean, still only 19, is doing everything he can to put himself in the frame with some outstanding performances for Penrith.
Daley had such a high opinion of McLean that he picked up the phone last year to see if he was keen to play for the Blues if the NRL changed the international eligibility rules, which they have since done.
He told this masthead last month about McLean: “I like his defence, I like the way he carries the ball strongly, and while he’s only young, he’s not overawed by anything – I think he’s a wonderful player.”
McLean has improved further since then, including an excellent individual try where he palmed off Melbourne’s Jahrome Hughes – twice – and showed speed to zoom into a gap before sending Tom Jenkins over for a first try on Friday night.
McLean was a standout for New Zealand at the end of last year, but is just as keen to represent the state he grew up in.
Latrell Mitchell is the incumbent and also in sizzling form for South Sydney, but another centre option, Stephen Crichton, is now nursing a shoulder injury.
McLean pointed out he was just as comfortable playing right centre and on the wing.
“I wanted to represent my family and where I come from,” said McLean, when he first chose New Zealand ahead of NSW.
“That’s a big factor I’ve been playing this game as long as I have been.
“I wanted to put on the black jersey and represent where my parents [Shannon and Willie] come from as a way of giving back to them.
“If the opportunity comes [to play for NSW], I’d take it with both hands.”
