NRL: Origin stars Mitch Barnett, Kurt Capewell unhappy to miss NZ Warriors’ top-of-table clash

Kurt Capewell was one of Queensland’s best in their loss against New South Wales.
Photo: AAP/Photosport

Despite licking their wounds from another torrid State of Origin encounter, NZ Warriors stars Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell are apparently not thrilled at missing their club’s top-of-the-table NRL clash with Penrith Panthers this weekend.

Barnett’s New South Wales side stormed back from 20 points down to capture the contest 22-20, after Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga was sent off for a dangerous high tackle with 20 minutes remaining.

The Warriors front-rower logged 40 minutes in two shifts, re-entering the game as his Blues began their comeback, while second-rower Capewell went the entire distance for the Maroons, emerging bloodied, but unbowed in a losing effort.

Neither will back up on Sunday, when the Auckland club travel to Sydney to face the first-placed Panthers at CommBank Stadium.

“They’re both willing – let’s be clear about that – and they weren’t too happy about it, but we just think it’s best for them,” coach Andrew Webster admitted.

Last year, Barnett suffered a season-ending knee injury four days after the Origin opener, and Webster did not ask Capewell to back up after the second and third games of the series.

“We don’t have an Origin stand-down policy,” Webster said. “If you’re going to back them up, they’re already in Sydney and we play on Sunday, so it’s an easy flight for them or they stay there.

“The thing for us is they haven’t played a lot of football this year and haven’t got a lot of momentum, so it would be stupid to jeopardise their lack of football off the back of Origin and what they put their bodies through.”

Sometimes, players must be protected from themselves, and both Barnett and Capewell have been hampered by injuries this season.

Barnett started his campaign late, recovering from the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, then lost games to a broken thumb and concussion. Capewell pulled up lame during warm-ups for the second game against Canberra Raiders and missed the next five weeks with a calf strain.

Understandably, they’re both champing at the bit to build on the team’s current six-game winning streak.

Webster denies Barnett’s 2025 misfortune influenced his team selection against Penrith.

“Last year, I left the ground thinking we did everything right with regards to backing up,” he said. “It was a good timeframe and he was feeling good.

“It’s always in the back of your mind, but it wasn’t a consideration for this one.”

Panthers counterpart Ivan Cleary has named his four NSW representatives on an extended bench and will likely monitor their recovery, before deciding on their participation.

“We’ve got no idea, no indication,” said Webster, who spent time as Cleary’s assistant at both Wests Tigers and Penrith.

Mitch Barnett contributed to NSW’s comeback win over Queensland.
Photo: AAP/Photosport

“If you look over history, they’ve varied it – different times they have and different times they haven’t – so we’re not going to over-complicate it. We expect every player to be available and see what happens.”

Last June, Cleary left five Origin stars out of his team to face the Warriors at Go Media Stadium, but the second-stringers proved up to the task, emerging 28-18 winners.

Webster’s conservative approach to the availability of his senior players indicates a reluctance to put too much weight on the outcome of this marquee match-up.

Win or loss, the outcome should not be regarded as season-defining.

“I don’t want to downplay and not sell the game,” said Webster, who helped Penrith to two championships during his tenure there.

“We’ve played against the Panthers for a while now, it’s not the first time we’ve come across them, so I’ve kind of lost that feeling of the ‘old club’.

“They’ve been the pinnacle for the last six years, so we’re looking forward to the challenge, that’s for sure.

“Regardless of what happens on the weekend, it’s not guaranteeing us anything – it won’t guarantee us a bad rest of the season, and it won’t guarantee that we kick on and do well.

“There are two points up for grabs at the end of the day, but it would be nice to come off with a good performance against a good side, after playing some good football.”

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