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Xavier Coates a doubt for Origin III, limps off as Melbourne Storm edge Canberra

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  • June 30, 2024 at 12:25 am #15241

    Alexender Noah
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    Xavier Coates a doubt for Origin III, limps off as Melbourne Storm edge Canberra Raiders

    Xavier Coates appears to be a serious doubt for the State of Origin decider after limping off the field late in the Storm’s gritty 16-6 victory over the Raiders in Melbourne.

    The Maroons winger cut a desperate sight as he was helped from the field.

    Coates had stretched to score a try in the second half of the contest but after missing the ball, remained on the ground, mouthing “hammy” to his teammates before beginning the slow limp around the edge of the field.

    “I don’t think it’s great,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.

    “Until they get a scan I won’t know the exact extent of the injury, but I don’t think it’s too good.

    “I wouldn’t think that he’d be available [for Origin], but I don’t think the medical staff make that prediction until they’ve seen the scan.

    “He’s upset and I think we can all understand why.”

    It was reported that Coates has injured that same hamstring twice already this season, in the pre-season and in round eight’s match against the Rabbitohs, after which he missed two weeks.

    Maroons coach Billy Slater will now face a selection headache for the decider at Lang Park, having been comprehensively thrashed by the Blues at the MCG.

    Dane Gagai was the Maroons’ 18th man for Game II, with other options including Selwyn Cobbo and Murray Taulagi.

    The 23-year-old looked distraught as he left the field, and now faces a race against time to be fit in time for the Brisbane decider on July 17.

    On the pitch, the Storm had to work hard to complete victory against a dogged Raiders side in tough conditions.

    Only one try was scored — by Josh King in the 37th minute — during a dour first half in which the Storm had 60 per cent possession but crafted few opportunities.

    Kaeo Weekes scored a length of the field try to level the scores just after half-time, but within 10 minutes the Storm had scored two more tries through Shawn Blore and Jack Howarth.

    “We can’t just keep turning over that amount of football,” Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said.

    “Just made it too hard for ourselves.”

    He also said the Raiders were “just on the wrong side of the guessing game” when it comes to six again calls.

    Earlier, the Warriors held off a Broncos comeback to record a 32-16 victory at a sold out Mount Smart stadium.

    The Knights then won a shootout against the Eels 34-26 in front of 17,424 fans at Hunter stadium.

    Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.

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