Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston could miss a number of weeks with a knee injury in what is an ill-timed blow to his outside shot of a State of Origin debut with NSW. Johnston has been in sensational try-scoring form in 2026 outside centre partner Latrell Mitchell.
The Rabbitohs flyer sits second on the try-scorers’ list with 14 from nine games and his partnership outside the form player of the competition in Mitchell has been superb. The Mitchell-Johnston combo has prompted some to call for Laurie Daley to consider Johnston for NSW selection.
Alex Johnston (pictured far left) will miss Magic Round and is now an even longer shot of earning a NSW Blues debut in State of Origin. (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
With the Blues searching for a winger, Johston shaped as an ideal partner for Mitchell on the left. But unfortunately for Johnston he injured his knee against the Knights two weeks ago and has been ruled out of Magic Round.
He played through the injury during the loss to Newcastle, and even backed up the following week against the Sharks where he scored two tries. But the Rabbitohs announced on Tuesday that Johnston has a torn Posterior Cruciate Ligament and won’t play against the Dolphins on Friday night.
The Rabbitohs said they will manage the 31-year-old winger on a week-to-week basis, with no current return date set in stone.
It means Johnston won’t have one last chance to impress Daley for a place in the NSW side. There were suggestions incumbent Brian To’o could switch wings and play on the right. This would allow Mitchell and Johnston to play together if Daley felt he wanted a left-edge combination for the Blues.
Although this was unlikely with Daley having already thrown a number of names out there who could play right wing. And another NSW Blues bolter has been mentioned for the vacant wing position.
Alex Johnston (pictured) won’t play against the Dolphins in Magic round after injuring his knee. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
(Jason McCawley via Getty Images)Laurie Daley set to make key wing call
NSW Blues coach Daley is facing a number of tough calls with the left-wing position also up for grabs. Mark Nawaqanitawase’s injury and Zac Lomax’s exit to rugby means the jersey is also available. The likes of Campbell Graham, Josh Addo-Carr and Thomas Jenkins have all been thrown out there as options with the race potentially coming down to Magic Round.
But another bolter whose names has been thrown out there is Dolphins back Jack Bostock. The Dolphins flyer returned two rounds ago from an ACL injury and has been sensational. The 22-year-old has scored three tries, made six tackle busts, one line-break, and recorded one try assist across two games. And The Sydney Morning Herald reporter Adrian Proszenko through Bostock’s name out there in the pivotal round before selection.
“One of the names that I heard and we love an Origin bolter, (is) the name Jack Bostock. (He is) potentially someone that will be on an extended list of players that will be spoken about,” Proszenko said on The Continuous Call Team’s podcast.
There are also growing calls for James Tedesco to replace incumbent Dylan Edwards at fullback for the NSW Blues. Daley will have one more round to look at both fullbacks with the Roosters taking on the Cowboys, while the Panthers play the Dragons.