Cameron Murray's hopes of featuring in State of Origin I have taken a significant hit, with the South Sydney skipper set to undergo surgery on a shoulder complaint.
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Murray should only miss three to four weeks, starting with this weekend's game against the Warriors before the Rabbitohs face Canberra and the Wests Tigers.
But the 24-year-old will be facing a tight recovery time to be right to feature for NSW in Origin I on June 8.
After undergoing off-season shoulder surgery, Souths say Murray had begun to develop discomfort in his shoulder.
The captain had scans and saw a specialist on Tuesday before the Rabbitohs sent him for a "minor procedure".
Murray has been one of Brad Fittler's most dependable players since making his Origin bow in 2019 but the Blues coach said his side could more than account for the Rabbitohs lock's absence.
"Keaon Koloamatangi has been a part of our camps and we've also got Tariq Sims, Tyson Frizell, Angus Crichton and Liam Martin who have played prior," Fittler told media on Wednesday.
"It's such an important position because there's so much pressure on those people, especially in defence.
"Over the last sort of four or five years, we've always had really good depth."
Australian Associated Press
