Tom Trbojevic has come out and confirmed what we all knew, and many feared, that he would be next to no chance for selection come Origin One.
The incumbent NSW winger, and Kangaroos centre, was a lock for selection anywhere across the back five, and his injury has left a huge hole in the Origin selection plans.
James Tedesco will line up at fullback with Josh Addo-Carr on the wing outside of Latrell Mitchell. Those three spots are locked in and jerseys printed, injury aside.
What is not locked in, however, is the opposite side of the field, with both the centre and wing spots now up for grabs. Given an injury to and the history in rep footy of Parramatta star Blake Ferguson, I'd argue that both spots are wide open.
You'd think that Ferguson is front runner to regain the now vacant wing position but Brad Fittler has already tasted success with his no nonsense selection policy.
Ferguson, for all of his amazing talents and his red hot form, may miss out on selection due to his choices in camp in years gone by. I wouldn't be shocked to see him selected, perhaps even expect it, but Fittler has been very up front in saying he's looking for representatives to be just that both on and off the field.
James Roberts is the other Origin incumbent, but given his own off-field issues and a severe lack of form, he's fallen well out of must select status.
Plenty of names have been thrown up as wing and/or centre replacements but there are three players who stand head and shoulders above the rest right now.
Funnily enough they've become the almost 'forgotten' trio for possible Origin selection.
Even funnier is the fact that they're all teammates and only one/two will emerge at the expense of the other(s).
Of course I'm talking about the red hot Raiders and their three Origin possibilities, Nick Notric, Joey Leilua and Jarrod Croker.
Perennial Origin contender Jarrod Croker is in red hot form right now and looks set for a possible call up to the Origin level, FINALLY!!! His name has been involved in Origin selection talk for the better part of five-plus years. I think that may even be possibly underselling it.
He would likely have to shift to the right to earn a call up with Latrell parked on the left for as long as he wants it. Croker, with almost 250 games of experience, should handle this without issue.
Croker looks the front runner right now given his experience and form. He may even be called upon to kick regardless of how Fittler is feeling with Cleary, Maloney and Latrell. It certainly would take pressure off the halves and the young centre, although this surely won't factor in the decision making.
What will factor in is Croker's attacking ability and improved defence. Once known as a turnstile, he has come good in defence. To say Croker knows his way to the try line would be an understatement. He has 117 to date at NRL level already. I wouldn't be shocked to see him add one if selected for Origin I.
Leilua shapes as close to can be a like for like switch for Roberts as possible, if they go in that direction. Of course they're different players, with Roberts being much faster, yet Leilua being far more destructive with his offloads and tackle breaks. That said, Leilua is an out and out right centre whereas other options are not.
Whereas I'm sure an Origin level player could play on the other side if required, Fittler will be looking to minimise disruption where possible, which makes Leilua a red hot option.
His form has been good, really good, with him adding another two tries against the Broncos this past weekend. His partnership with Jordan Rapana is arguably the best right hand combination in the game, it's a shame Rapana isn't available for selection or I believe Leilua would be a lock for selection here.
He does have a mistake in his game, whether it be a horror pass, a brain explosion leading to a penalty, or a mixture of both. That said, he has an attitude made for Origin. Tough as nails, he's never taken a step back, sometimes to his detriment. I just can't see his opposite number getting one over him physically.
If Ferguson is overlooked, Cotric is in line for an Origin debut at just 20 years of age. Daniel Tupou is playing well but seems a step behind, Josh Mansour isn't in the conversation despite his rep experience, I wouldn't be blooding Curtis Scott out of position, and I can't see James Roberts or either of Cotric's Raiders centres being shifted to the wing. He's got twice as much NRL experience than Campbell Graham.
Cotric is a specialist winger in every sense of the word and that works to his advantage here. He starts sets well with big runs, he's good under the high ball, and he's as tough and as strong as an ox. 30 tries in 54 games for a side that hasn't exactly been top four certainties since his debut in 2017, is incredible.
He'll most likely be paired against either Dane Gagai or Corey Oates, depending on what Kevin Walters does with his with selection. At 6 ft 1in, he's only giving up a slight height advantage to the monstrous Oates. He's improved under the high ball and should be able to take away one of the Maroon's best weapons out wide.
I love the Cotric option in both attack and defence. There's a chance he may even play outside one of his teammates. Given the form on the left with Croker, I wouldn't rule out an all Green Machine centre/wing combination. The big question of course will be whether Cotric can shift to the right wing as I can't see Mitchell shifting away from his preferred side.
Let us know below, do you see one or two of the Raiders in-form three being selected?