Where there's a Wilton, there's a way: Teig eyeing NSW dream
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Sharks forward Teig Wilton has opened up on his lifelong dream to play State of Origin as he launches a late bid for a Blues call up.
Liam Martin is set to miss Game One at Accor Stadium on May 27, while Angus Crichton will attempt to play through a medial ligament injury and Hudson Young has missed the past two weeks due to suspensions.
The challenges faced by established Blues have opened the door for a host of new backrowers to put their hands up for selection.
Haumole Olakau'atu played two Origin games in 2024, while Jacob Preston has been in the NSW squad in the past. Wilton has long been viewed as a future Origin player and captained a NSW Under 20 team featuring Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton and Spencer Leniu in 2019.
Match Highlights: U20 Blues v Maroons
The contenders have just two weeks left to press their claims before the side is selected at the conclusion of Magic Round.
Wilton scored a hat-trick in Cronulla's dominant win over the Tigers last week and hasn't given up hope of making his NSW debut during the upcoming series.
"It's something I'm striving towards," Wilton told NRL.com. "It's something I definitely want to do and have wanted to do ever since I was a little kid. Every day I'm working towards that goal.
"If I play my best footy for the Sharks and do my role for this team like I know I can, then I'll be a good chance to play Origin this year."
Match: Rabbitohs v Sharks
Round 10 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
4th Position
away Team
Sharks
8th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Cronulla returned to form last week with a resounding 42-point victory but they face a new challenge against the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.
Wayne Bennett's men are stinging from a thrilling defeat to the Knights last Sunday, Latrell Mitchell denied in the final minute as Newcastle prevailed 42-38.
South Sydney were dealt a blow on Thursday when Mitchell was ruled out due to a back injury, with Latrell Siegwalt coming in for his NRL debut.
The match provides Wilton with another chance to impress NSW coach Laurie Daley as he goes toe to toe with a pair of Blues hopefuls, Keaon Koloamatangi and Cam Murray.
While primarily middle forwards, both men have played on the edge in the past and Murray's versatility has him firmly in the mix for a NSW return after missing last year's series through injury.
Wilton's recent form surge comes after a delayed start to the 2026 campaign as he recovered from off-season shoulder surgery.
The edge forward has played through a string of injuries in the past few years, with coach Craig Fitzgibbon opting to take a patient approach this season to ensure his charge was fit and firing before returning to the field.
Three for Teig
Finally healthy, Fitzgibbon is confident we're starting to see Wilton's best form and expects it's only a matter of time before the edge forward is representing his state.
"He's capable of it," Fitzgibbon said. "We haven't seen the best of him yet. We don't talk about what players go through but Teig's played busted for three years straight.
"He's one of our strongest leaders. He's got a real presence about him and he's a man of few words but what he says matters. The way he plays, the players love him.
"I'd like to see him get a year or two of some consistency to show what he can do because he's a hell of a player. We learnt the lesson when you play at the intensity he does but you can't prepare because you're hurt, it kept costing him.
"You want to prepare how you play but he's been so busted he can't prepare at the level he plays at. This year he's been healthy so we haven't seen the best of him yet."
Wilton has relished the chance to train and play pain free throughout the past month and is looking to use this period as a platform for a sustained run of form.
At 26 years old, the Narooma product is starting to come into his prime and knows he's just getting started.
Teig Wilton on extending his stay at the Sharks
"I'm not the finished product yet," Wilton said. "I've still got things I can improve on. There's more to go with my footy that I'm searching for every week.
"It's the best thing about being in the NRL, you get an opportunity the next week to take it to another level.
"I want to get better in every way on the field. To be a great player you've got to keep looking for the one percenters and I'll keep searching for that every week."
