'It's not great': More bad news for Maroons with Coates limping off as weakened Storm repel Raiders

Queensland could be without one of their best attacking weapons for the State of Origin decider after Xavier Coates suffered another hamstring injury in Melbourne’s 16-6 triumph over Canberra at AAMI Park.

Coates, who missed a couple of weeks earlier this season with a hamstring problem, limped off with seven minutes remaining after stretching out for a near-miss try-scoring opportunity.

He cut a dejected figure as he struggled off the field knowing that he is likely to miss more game time with Origin III at Suncorp Stadium less than three weeks away.

Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo, a surprise omission from the 38-18 game-two loss at the MCG, is the likely candidate to replace Coates if the Storm winger is ruled out of the decider.

Maroons centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is also under an injury cloud with the Dolphins speedster ruled out for the next two weeks with a shoulder problem.

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“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,” Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said.

“I wouldn’t think that he’d be available (for Origin) but I don’t think the medical staff are gonna make that prediction until they see a scan either.

“It was his 50th Storm game. He’s in there, he’s upset and I think we can all understand why.”

Coates was the only Origin representative backing up for a second match in Melbourne this week after Maroons teammate Harry Grant was rested by the Storm due to the nasty head cut he suffered in the heavy loss to the Blues.

With Ryan Papenhuyzen (heel), Cameron Munster (groin) and Nick Meaney (calf) also out, Melbourne fielded a heavily depleted line-up and the competition leaders struggled to shake off the Raiders.

There was a scoring stalemate for much of the first half before Josh King plunged over from a Bronson Garlick short ball.

(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Canberra levelled up at 6-6 a minute into the second half when Kaeo Weekes, switched to fullback, made up for an average opening 40 minutes by scoring a sizzling long-range try from a kick-return.

Storm forward Shawn Blore barged over and centre Jack Howarth notched his first NRL try to put the hosts up by six by the 52nd minute but there would be no more scoring in a match which failed to reach any great heights.

Melbourne have reinforced their position at the top of the ladder with their fourth straight victory and 12th from 15 starts while the 12th-placed Raiders are stuck in a mid-table logjam with eight teams separated by just three competition points.

“I thought their defence was outstanding, we were lucky we got the win there,” Storm half Jahrome Hughes said.

“We’ve been scrapping to get the wins all year and I feel like it’s a good thing. You’d rather be winning those tight ones than losing them.

“The field’s real dewy at the moment. Everyone was slipping over, dropping the ball. It was tough conditions.”

Canberra debutant Jordan Martin received a rousing reception from family and friends after getting on for his first taste of the NRL in the second half but he was forced off just five minutes later due to a concussion when he stumbled out of an attempted tackle on Christian Welch.

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It was a cruel blow for the the 24-year-old forward from Narooma, who fought his way to the top level after an ACL tear last year.

Ati Mariota and Jordan Rapana also failed to finish the match due to head knocks.

“You can’t just keep turning over that amount of football. We just made it too hard for ourselves,” Canberra coach Ricky Stuart said.

“You don’t want to keep handing possession over in our end of the field. Set after set.”

Stuart claimed his side was “on the wrong side of the guessing game against” from referee Grant Atkins.

“Those six-agains, they just guess. They give one away here and another one there.”