NSW coach Laurie Daley worries about Brian To'o's recovery; Jacob Kiraz is on standby for Game 2.
NSW coach Laurie Daley has provided a worrying update on Blues winger Brian To'o after admitting his recovery from a hamstring niggle has not progressed as much as medical staff had hoped. Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz was called into Blues camp on Wednesday as a potential replacement for To'o if the Panthers flyer is unable to recover in time for Game 2 in Perth, where NSW will hope to wrap up the series with another win.
To'o has already had two hamstring strains this year and missed the start of the NRL season for Penrith. And while Daley insists the injury hasn't 'flared up' and he remains hopeful the winger will be right to face the Maroons in Game 2, the NSW coach did concede on Thursday morning that the Blues' medical team were concerned the hamstring niggle had not improved as quickly as they expected.
"We thought earlier in the week Brian would be OK ... but it just hasn't progressed as far as what we need him to," Daley told Nine's Today Show. "We're still confident that he'll be OK, but we thought it'd be better off to have Jacob come here on standby if Brian doesn't get up.