Welcome to Freddys Fright Night. Eleven days after celebrating his first Origin win, NSW coach Brad Fittler was forced to watch Penrith prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard suffer a suspected broken jaw and Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell taken from the field on the back of a medicab with a neck injury.
Tyrone Peachey will also be sweating on not being charged by the match review committee for striking Luke Keary.
Crunch: Reagan Campbell-Gillard may have broken his jaw on Jared Waerea-Hargreaves shoulder
Photo: NRL Photos
While Queensland did not escape last nights wreckage – Dylan Napa also made an early exit from Allianz Stadium with an ankle injury, and Michael Morgan may have torn his biceps earlier in Townsville – Fittlers trouble-free maiden campaign suddenly came to a screeching halt.
The selection debate was already raging before the full-time siren sounded. You would think Ryan James is one prop who rockets into calculations, especially given he was in the mix for game one and was almost about to board a plane from the Gold Coast to join the first Blues camp.
Aaron Woods is another representative prop, as is Campbell-Gillards Penrith pal Trent Merrin.
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The centre options could see St George Illawarras Euan Aitken given a call, or even Melbournes Curtis Scott. Peachey could be promoted to the starting side – he has Mitchell-like speed over short distances – which creates a vacancy on the bench.
For Mitchell, his 21st birthday today will be anything but a celebration. To make matters worse, he suffered the injury from an accidental crusher tackle involving fellow Baby Blue Nathan Cleary.
The Roosters shot out to an early lead and never looked like getting rolled by genuine premiership threats Penrith. The Panthers will remain in the top four by the end of the weekend, while the star-studded Roosters are now two points outside the four.
Coach Trent Robinson and the Roosters faithful will be on a high heading into the bye weekend. Blake Ferguson and Victor Radley were outstanding. But it was impossible not to get caught up in the emotion of the shocking injuries to Campbell-Gillard and Mitchell.
Campbell-Gillard reeled out of a tackle with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves midway through the first half. The Penrith prop charged into the line and appeared to make contact with Waerea-Hargreaves right shoulder.
Campbell-Gillard was impressive in his first Origin game for the Blues, and the injury could not have come at a worse time for him.
One positive sign was Campbell-Gillard not leaving the ground and watching the second half with the rest of the injured Penrith players.
Neck injury: Latrell Mitchell is stretchered off the field.
Photo: AAP
Mitchell was super impressive at the MCG and refused to be baited by pesky Queensland opposite Will Chambers. He stood in a tackle and snuck a pass out the back for Keary to put Zane Tetevano over for the Roosters third try to give them an 18-0 lead.
Penrith fell behind in the sixth minute when Manu took a James Maloney intercept pass and charged down field. Radley went the short side at the next play and put Blake Ferguson over in the right corner.
Maloney had a frustrating night, especially with his normally trusty right boot, and his shot on Mitch Aubusson off the ball just before half-time allowed the Roosters to head into the break 20-6 ahead.
ROOSTERS 32 (Ferguson, Liu, Tetevano, Ferguson, Tupou tries; Mitchell 4, Ferguson 2 goals bt PENRITH 6 ( Whare try, Maloney goal). Crowd: 10,078
Christian covers rugby league for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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