RUGBY LEAGUE
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Almost everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for NSW coach Laurie Daley, a fortnight before he names his team for State of Origin I.
Poor form, injuries and possible suspensions have thrown the Blues' first defence of the Origin shield in eight years into disarray just three weeks out from game one on May 27.
Ahead of his team being named on May 19, Daley will have only bedded down a few players for inclusion in his 17 for Origin I. In contrast, Queensland's side has virtually chosen itself.
A possible eight-match suspension for Blues enforcer Greg Bird, which would see him miss Origin I and II, and a knee injury to Josh Dugan only added to Daley's blues on Monday.
Incumbent five-eighth Josh Reynolds all but played himself out of his Blues No 6 jersey with an ill-disciplined below-par effort for City in the loss to Country at Wagga Wagga on Sunday.
Dugan was one of the few certain starters in the NSW side before suffering a knee injury in Australia's Test lost to New Zealand in Brisbane on Sunday.
More should be known about the extent of the St George Illawarra star's injury on Tuesday amid fears he will not be right for Origin I.
Brett Morris will almost certainly miss the Origin opener with a hamstring injury, while Alex Johnston's low involvement in his Test debut and NSW incumbent and City winger Daniel Tupou's continuing lacklustre form is of concern.
NSW captain Paul Gallen remains a 50-50 chance for the ANZ Stadium opener as he battles a hip injury.
Of great concern at the selection table for Daley is his halves, with Reynolds well outpointed by Country playmaker James Maloney in Wagga Wagga.
However, Maloney's defence is a significant concern, with momentum building for an unlikely halves combination of Canterbury's Trent Hodkinson and Sydney Roosters' Mitchell Pearce.
The Dogs and Roosters meet in round 10 at ANZ Stadium on the Friday before Daley chooses his team, giving Pearce, Maloney, Hodkinson and Reynolds the chance to play off for a Blues jersey just four days before the NSW team is named.
However, there is some good news for Daley.
Back-rower Beau Scott will play for Newcastle against Manly at Brookvale Oval on Sunday after shaking off an ankle injury, while Josh Morris is set to overcome an ankle complaint to play for the Dogs against North Queensland on Saturday in Townsville.
Will Hopoate has overcome a groin problem and will play for Parramatta against the Storm in Melbourne on Sunday.
Hopoate returned to the NSW side last season after two years away on a Mormon mission and believes he is now better placed to stake his claim for a Blues jersey.
"Physically now I feel better," Hopoate said. "Having the two years off then coming back, there was a bit of adjustment to the physicality of things.
"But I feel a bit more adjusted now to the physical side of the game."