James Tedesco has failed to return for the second half of the State of Origin decider in Brisbane after a head clash in an eventful final minute of the first half.
The NSW fullback clashed heads with Queensland’s Briton Nikora, who was carrying the ball after a Blues knock-on.
Trailing 18-4, Nikora stopped and stared down a dazed Tedesco before playing on and being tackled, triggering an all-in scuffle.
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Nikora was placed on report for high contact in the ensuing scuffle, the full house not impressed when referee Ashley Klein awarded a penalty to the visitors.
“Tedesco’s in a bad way,” Andrew Johns said on Nine.
“He’ll be gone for the game. He was out cold.”
Against those expectations, Tedesco was given the chance to return when he was only assessed with Category 2 symptoms.
But he failed his head injury assessment at half-time and was replaced at fullback by Tolu Koula.
“Well he’s pretty excited but he knows he’s got a big job because they’ll look to target him,” NSW coach Laurie Daley said when asked what he said to Koula.
Tedesco has a history of concussions, suffering seven in three years when he recorded his 10th instance in 2024.
The Maroons were then forced into a second-half change of their own on Wednesday night.
Reece Walsh was injected when halfback Sam Walker was also sent for a HIA with Category 2 symptoms after slipping into teammate Robert Toia.
Walsh made an immediate impact with some threatening runs but, as Walker did in the first half, missed his first conversion attempt following a Queensland try.
Walker passed his HIA just as NSW were controversially awarded a try that appeared to have been knocked on in the build-up.
The Blues led 24-8 after Nathan Cleary’s conversion.
But they copped another blow when debutant Jack Bostock was taken off for a HIA soon after, having hit his head in a heavy fall following an aerial contest.
His night was ended by a Category 1 ruling.
Queensland doctors were busy again afterwards when Nikora was taken off for his own HIA.
The Maroons earlier dodged a bullet when recalled star Jeremiah Nanai wore a Mitchell Moses kick to the head at close range but did not require an HIA.
— with AAP
