Cricket
Motorsport
Basketball test
League - Test
Combat Sports
Netball
Football
Massive blow for Blues and Warriors as Barnett suffers ACL rupture
Sam Kosack • June 2nd, 2025 7:21 pm
Warriors co-captain and NSW Blues prop Mitch Barnett season is over after it was confirmed he suffered an ACL injury against the Rabbitohs.
Barnett has enjoyed a huge 2025 season averaging 131 metres per game, earning selection for the NSW Blues for State of Origin Game I.
The enforcer went down in the 21st minute of the Warriors' win over the Rabbitohs on Sunday, with scans today confirming a ruptured ACL that will rule him out for the rest of the season.
Barnett played 41 minutes in Game I for NSW and now leaves a massive hole for both the Blues and Warriors to fill.
Stefano Utoikamanu is the likely frontrunner to fill Barnett's spot in Game II, having been in the extended squad for Game I.
Wests Tigers' prop Terrell May and Rabbitohs' prop Keaon Koloamatangi are other options to come into the 17.
SEN 1170 Drive host Bryan Fletcher said Stefano Utoikamanu's time in the squad for Game I means he should be Barnett's replacement in Perth.
"Cruel game this but now we've got to look forward to Game II," Fletcher said.
"Stefano was on standby for Payne Haas so I feel that Stefano will go in.
"I don't think he's going to pick Terrell (May) so it looks like Koloamatangi would come in with Haumole Olakau'atu who's already in the squad.
"(Koloamatangi) has been a revelation coming into the middle...
"Stefano will start, he'll be in the 17. I think they'll get Koloamatangi or May in just as standby."
