Injured prop Weyman out for six weeks
NRL clubs have been left counting the cost of Origin II with St George Illawarra prop Michael Weyman the latest to fall victim, ruled out for up to six weeks with an ankle injury.
Weyman joins Queensland counterparts Petero Civoniceva (toe, seven weeks) and Ben Hannant (knee, six weeks) in watching Origin III from the sidelines after being diagnosed with a grade one ankle strain.
The burly prop initially damaged the joint in Origin II, but managed to play out the match and the first 18 minutes of the Dragons' win over Wests Tigers on Friday night before rolling his ankle again.
"To finally get there (to Origin) and to have it taken away through injury ... is very disappointing, but you know that's footy and we'll just wait and see what happens now," Weyman said.
"I'm enjoying my footy at the moment and (injury) is just one of those things.
"That's the risk you take when you go on the footy field, injuries are a part of the game and there's not much that you can do about it, you've just got to get on with it."
Weyman has been replaced by Jon Green in the run-on side for the Dragons' match-up with the Sydney Roosters on Friday night, rookie Trent Merrin the new face on the bench.
His injury left Blues selectors joining their Queensland rivals in a mad scramble to find a new front-rower.
NSW are also expected to be without game one starter Luke Bailey after he was not named to return for Gold Coast this week due to a broken arm.
Civoniceva will join fellow representative forward Luke Lewis in the CUA Stadium grandstand on Sunday when Penrith host local rivals Parramatta.
The Panthers have been boosted by the return of dynamic centre Michael Jennings, who will be out to push for an Origin III recall after being ruled out of game two with a calf complaint.
Cronulla lock Paul Gallen will also be a spectator this weekend after the bone bruising in his shoulder copped a pounding when he turned out for NSW and the Sharks in the space of four days last week.
He was not named for Saturday night's trip to North Queensland to face a Cowboys side strengthened by the return of fullback Matt Bowen and NSW second rower Luke O'Donnell from injury.
Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has shifted enigmatic playmaker Benji Marshall from halfback to his former position of five-eighth for their clash with fellow strugglers South Sydney, with John Morris dumped to the bench and Tim Moltzen the new man in the No.7.
Rabbitohs coach Jason Taylor has resisted the temptation to follow Sheens' lead despite four straight losses, Craig Wing named to come back from a hamstring complaint in the only change to the side which went down to Newcastle on Monday night.
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