Storm players have vowed to rally around Xavier Coates as coach Craig Bellamy admitted the Maroons star is likely to miss the July 17 Origin decider after suffering a hamstring injury.
Bellamy said Coates was a dejected figure in the Storm dressing room after coming from the field just six minutes before full-time in Saturday night's 16-6 defeat of the Raiders at AAMI Park.
Asked about Coates' chances of playing for Queensland in the series decider at Suncorp Stadium, Bellamy said the Storm were bracing for bad news.
“I wouldn’t think that he would be available, but I don’t think the medical staff are going to make that prediction until they see a scan," Bellamy said.
Coates leaves the field with suspected hamstring injury
The star winger suffered the injury as he chased a kick by five-eighth Tyran Wishart and dived for the ball in a bid to ground it in Canberra's in-goal and he immediately told captain Jahrome Hughes of his hamstring fears.
Coates was visibly upset as he tried to walk from behind the tryline to the dressing room and he appeared to be in more pain with each step, until eventually being carried by two Melbourne trainers.
The PNG international injured the same hamstring against South Sydney in Round 8 and was sidelined for two weeks, while he also had hamstring problems during the pre-season.
"It’s not great, he’s had a few issues. Until they get a scan, I don’t think we’re going to know the exact extent of the injury, but I don’t think it’s too good,” Bellamy said.
“It probably made it a little bit worse tonight in that it was his 50th Storm game. He's in there, he's upset, and I think we can all understand why.”
Storm team-mates were disappointed for Coates, who has had an outstanding season for the club, and said they would support him.
Coates with the best match winner you have ever seen
“Xavier has played a lot of footy this year and is probably due for a rest; particularly the last few weeks, he’s been playing Origin and has backed up for us," prop Josh King said.
“It’s not ideal but the best thing about Xavier is that he is so diligent with his recovery and preparation, so whatever it is I’m sure he will be straight onto it.
“Xavier is a massive player for us, you have seen that through the year with some of the tries he has scored. We are in this great position on the ladder and some of that is because of him.
"He played his 50th game tonight for the Storm, that is a great achievement for him, so the boys will definitely get around him.”
Jack Howarth Try
Rookie centre Jack Howarth, whose 52nd minute try sealed the gritty win, said he had spoken briefly with Coates about the injury.
“I just went up to him and said, 'it’s unlucky', but I think with him, because he’s so powerful and runs so fast, he’s just always at risk," Howarth said.
"I’m hopeful he can bounce back from it. He is a great asset for us, so hopefully it’s not too bad.”
