Murray out for up to eight weeks in fresh blow to battling Rabbitohs

South Sydney and the NSW Blues have been dealt a huge blow with inspirational forward Cameron Murray set to miss up to eight weeks with a hip flexor injury.

With South Sydney’s season already in freefall, Murray’s injury compounds a disastrous campaign for the Bunnies, who will struggle to field a team this weekend given the number of injuries at the club.

The injury is also a big blow for new Blues coach Michael Maguire, who had earmarked Murray as a certain selection for game one of the State of Origin series, which starts on June 5. Maguire names his team for the opening game of the series in three weeks’ time.

Murray was a certain selection at lock, but the Blues will now likely turn to Isaah Yeo or Cameron McInnes to wear the No.13 jersey.

Murray isn’t expected to be available until the final game of the series, at best. He was a rare bright light at the struggling club, averaging 101 running metres and 40 tackles a game at a 95 per cent efficiency.

It is another headache for interim Souths coach Ben Hornby, who has an estimated $4 million worth of talent unavailable on the sidelines. Murray’s injury has also been compounded by news that fullback Jye Gray and halfback Dean Hawkins are also facing lengthy stints on the sideline with ankle and quadriceps injuries respectively.

While Latrell Mitchell will return from suspension for next weekend’s clash against the Dragons, Jacob Host is facing a two-game ban due to a grade-two dangerous contact charge from Thursday’s loss to the Panthers.

The Rabbitohs already have Campbell Graham, Alex Johnston, Tyrone Munro, Lachlan Ilias and Junior Tatola unavailable through injury.