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Full Noise by SN
Important update on 1476AMNSW forward sidelined as race begins for Origin I
Scott Bailey, AAP •  April 12th, 2026 4:06 pm
Liam Martin is injured and may not be back in time for the start of State of Origin | Photo: Mark Kolbe/AAP
NSW State of Origin star Liam Martin is set for a stint on the sideline after scans confirmed the Penrith second-rower suffered medial ligament damage.
Martin did not finish Thursday night's loss to Canterbury and will see a specialist on Monday for the injury to his left knee.
Penrith officials were on Sunday unsure how long he would spend on the sidelines, but he is no chance of facing the Dolphins on Friday night.
Liam Martin is central to Penrith and NSW, but left the field during the loss to the Bulldogs | Photo: Mark Kolbe/AAP
NSW officials will name their team for Origin I in a little over a month, with the May 27 series opener at Accor Stadium six-and-a-half weeks away.
Martin's injury comes with NSW centre Stephen Crichton also in a race to overcome a shoulder injury in time to play in Origin I.
Meanwhile Manly are hopeful Jake Trbojevic will be fit to face North Queensland on Thursday night as he attempts to overcome his gruesome facial injury.
Trbojevic was left unable to open his right eye after copping a knock in Friday's win over St George Illawarra, so significant was the swelling.
Jake Trbojevic has been wearing headgear for Manly but suffered an eye injury this weekend | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
But Sea Eagles officials have cleared the veteran lock of any bone damage, with the injury instead a soft-tissue issue.
They will wait to see how swelling around his eye subsides, but there is a hope he will be fine to travel to Townsville to take on the red-hot Cowboys.
Prop Siua Taukeiaho is also a chance to return, after he hurt his calf against Canberra in round one.
Manly had initially hoped he would come back against Sydney Roosters a fortnight ago, before he aggravated the injury at training.
But he is a chance to face North Queensland, with Manly coming off two successive wins after Kieran Foran replaced Anthony Seibold as coach.
The Cowboys will be without winger Murray Taulagi after he suffered a concussion in Friday night's thrilling win over Brisbane.
But hooker Reed Mahoney is a chance to play. He passed a concussion test on Friday night, before Cowboys officials still opted to keep him off the field.
North Queensland are also confident they will have Braidon Burns (ankle) and Sam McIntrye (foot) back from injury.
Elsewhere, South Sydney are sweating on fullback Jye Gray's shoulder, after he suffered suspected AC joint damage in their loss to Canberra.
The Rabbitohs arrived back in Sydney on the red eye from Perth on Sunday morning, and are not due back at training until Tuesday.
Tanah Boyd has been in terrific form to start the NRL season | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
The Warriors are also still assessing half Tanah Boyd's hamstring after he experienced tightness in Saturday night's win over Melbourne.
Any injury to Boyd would represent a significant blow for the Warriors, given fellow playmaker Luke Metcalf is also sidelined by a hamstring injury.
