Manly set to name Koula for Souths clash

Updated June 2, 2026 — 5:05pm,first published May 28, 2026 — 6:30pm

Parramatta have rated Mitchell Moses “touch and go” for Origin II after the playmaker was a surprise omission from Monday’s western Sydney derby with Canterbury.

Moses injured his left hamstring in NSW Origin camp last Monday, but Blues medicos expected him to make a full recovery in time for the Dogs clash after scans cleared him of serious damage.

But Eels coach Jason Ryles confirmed the club doctor had elected to rest Moses and give him more time to recover. There had been no fresh setbacks, said Ryles.

NSW coach Laurie Daley must now decide whether to name Moses in his squad knowing he will have gone a month between games come Origin II on June 17.

Moses last played for the Eels at Magic Round. One positive is that he completed a full week of training in Origin camp before he broke down and was replaced by Canberra’s Ethan Strange at five-eighth.

The expectation will be on Moses to be fit and ready for the Blues’ first training session.

“I think he’ll be touch and go for Origin II, but it is another week and a half until the game; it’s probably a little bit worse than he first thought,” Ryles said. “I wouldn’t have a problem [if he plays for NSW]. You’d rather have you players playing in Origin.”

The Blues will name their team following the Eels and Dogs clash, with Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton also under an injury cloud.

Crichton has been receiving painkilling injections before kick-off and at half-time to treat his AC joint, but is also hopeful of taking on Queensland in the Victorian capital.

Tolu Koula, meanwhile, was named in the centres for Manly, who take on South Sydney at 4 Pines Park on Thursday night, after the Sea Eagles sought an exemption from the mandatory 11-day concussion stand-down policy.

The Manly three-quarter failed a head-injury assessment on debut in Origin I after being floored by a shoulder charge from Kalyn Ponga. It was an incident led to the Maroons star being sent off and proved to be the turning point of the match.

Koula, 23, has been symptom-free since then and the club hopes cognitive testing, and a clearance from an independent NRL-appointed expert will allow him to line up against the Rabbitohs.

He was scheduled to be rested for last week’s meeting against Cronulla, but a solid hit-out before Origin II will almost certainly result in his retention on the wing for the Blues.

In other team news, Ezra Mam has been dropped from the Broncos side, with Tom Duffy joining Adam Reynolds in the halves for Saturday’s clash against the Gold