Koroisau to miss rest of 2023 Origin series

Westpac NSW Blues hooker Api Koroisau is expected to undergo surgery in Sydney today (Friday) after suffering a fractured jaw in the Wests Tigers-Gold Coast Titans NRL game at Cbus Super Stadium last night.

The injury, which happened while he was attempting a tackle on Titans prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, will rule out Koroisau for both Game Two and Game Three of the 2023 Ampol State of Origin series.

NSW coach Brad Fittler will name his team on Tuesday for the must-win game at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday 21 June.

“We have depth … but my focus is on Api now and I hope he’s okay, I’ve texted him,” Fittler said during Channel Nine’s coverage of the NRL match.

Later in the post-match press conference Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens confirmed Koroisau had broken his jaw in two places.

“It’s a major issue… scans have been taken and we’ll take him home for surgery tomorrow (Friday),” Sheens said.

“It’d be minimum six weeks if he’s lucky.

“The jaw is broken, it’s badly broken … so it’s going to be major surgery for him.

“It is (devastating for the club and Koroisau), it is. He plays the game tough; he plays the game fair.”

Sheens would not be drawn on any implications for Fa’asuamaleaui.

“…although they put it ‘on report’ so they went back and looked at it.”

The Fa’asuamaleaui-Koroisau tackle happened in the 15th minute with the Titans skipper placed on report in the 17th minute.

Koroisau went up the players’ tunnel and was taken to hospital. He made his debut for the Blues in 2021 and has played four games, which have included two tries and a try assist.