Xavier Coates Set Back Month, Out of Origin 1 Mix
Xavier Coates is still around a month away from making an NRL return after Achilles surgery, which all but rules him out of State of Origin Game 1 for Queensland. The Melbourne Storm winger had been expected to be back sooner, but his recovery has now moved into the final running phase instead of team training.
Frank Ponissi on Coates
Frank Ponissi said Coates is just about to start full running, a step that comes before he can rejoin the Storm’s main sessions. “Xavier is just about to start full running, which is a great sign,” Ponissi said. “That will include some individual running until he puts enough miles into his legs to return to team training. After a couple weeks (training) with the team we're hoping he'll be back playing within the month, which will be a great boost for everyone.”
Coates underwent Achilles surgery in February and was ruled out for at least three months. The Storm had initially hoped he would be back by Round 10, but the latest update pushes his return into a narrower window and leaves Queensland with less time before Origin selection.
Queensland Wing Picture
State of Origin Game 1 is scheduled for May 27 in Sydney, and the squads are set to be named in a little over two weeks. Coates has scored six tries in 13 Origin games and played in all three State of Origin games last year, so his absence would remove one of Billy Slater’s most familiar outside backs from the mix.
Queensland’s other options are still moving around. Murray Taulagi suffered his second head knock of the season in the Cowboys’ win over the Sharks and is set to miss a number of weeks, while Valentine Holmes played Game 3 on the wing last year and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow filled a wing role in the same series. Reece Walsh is expected to take the No.1 jersey, with Gehamat Shibaski and Robert Toia also named as backline options.
Selection Pressure Mounts
Dane Gagai remains in strong form, Kalyn Ponga returned from a hamstring injury on Sunday against Souths, and Jaxon Purdue has been mentioned as an Origin bolter. That leaves Queensland with several moving pieces, but Coates’ timeline is the clearest one: a player who was once tracking toward Round 10 is now facing a race just to get back into team training before Origin squads are named.
