Triple trouble: Blues' plans hit by back-row bans, Papenhuyzen blow

A triple blow to widely considered walk-up NSW starters Angus Crichton, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Victor Radley have the Blues scouring for back-row reinforcements, the one position the state is not flush for contenders.

Crichton and Radley will challenge the judiciary on Tuesday night but the latter is already out of Origin contention. 

Radley, who was twice sent to the sin bin in his side's loss to Brisbane at the SCG, has entered a guilty plea to his two charges - grade-one dangerous contact charge for a 12th-minute tackle on Albert Kelly and a grade-two careless high tackle charge for a 44th-minute incident involving Tevita Pangai jnr.

He will be banned for one game for the dangerous contact but will contest the grading for the high tackle charge.

If he is successful with the downgrade, his four-match ban for that incident will be reduced to one game, though if found guilty he will be out for five weeks and the opening two Origin clashes.

Either way, he will not be available for game one at the MCG on June 9.

Crichton may miss a fortnight after he was charged for dangerous contact unless he can prove his innocence to the panel. His late hit on Kelly was not placed on report by the on-field officials and would not have him facing suspension if not for three prior offences (two similar) in the past two seasons adding carry-over points to his charge sheet.

With Roosters and NSW captain Boyd Cordner already unavailable for Origin I due to his lengthy layoff due to a head knock, the likes of Tyson Frizell, Ryan Matterson, Tevita Pangai jnr, Liam Martin and injured Rabbitoh Cameron Murray will come into consideration.

Radley had been firming for a lock/bench spot - coach Brad Fittler at least has plenty of options at lock with Isaah Yeo, Jake Trbojevic, Murray, Nathan Brown and Dale Finucane in the mix.

Another Blues forward candidate, Eels prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard, was charged on Monday for a high tackle on Sunday against Manly - he can be available for Origin with an early guilty plea but would risk a two-match ban if he challenged the judiciary.

Crichton all but confirmed he would front the panel when interviewed on Sunday Night with Matty Johns on Sunday night said: "It's tough, I can't explain myself on air because we've obviously got the judiciary and that going on Tuesday."

When asked if he had considered changing his tackling style in light or the recent crackdown on high shots, he said: "I don't think you have to change your technique, it's just your discipline, tackle selection, for me there timing," in reference to the Broncos incident.

"You've got to control yourself. You've got to adapt or perish."

Papenhuyzen's concussion suffered in Magic Round has Storm coach Craig Bellamy fearing he will be out for up to the next month.

He won't play before NSW pick their Origin I team next Sunday and is unlikely to be risked as a selection.

Storm medical staff will continue to monitor the star fullback, who at this stage is only on light exercise duties as the team prepares for Thursday's clash with Brisbane, which Papenhuyzen will definitely miss.

Considered the strong frontrunner for a Blues bench utility role, his absence opens up the potential for Jack Wighton or Cody Walker to jag the bench spots they have filled in previous campaigns if they miss out on backline berths.

Clint Gutherson is another option considering the Eels captain offers cover from fullback to five-eighth.

"I don't think Paps will be back .... that head knock was a bad one," Bellamy said.

"I don't know exactly but we're talking three weeks, a month perhaps."