Rabbitohs lock Cameron Murray in doubt for Origin I after neck injury

South Sydney are sweating on scans of a neck injury to Cameron Murray after the Rabbitohs captain was not named in Jason Demetriou’s squad for their round-10 NRL clash with the Warriors.

Murray’s status was not included in a club medical update released on Tuesday, but the no-nonsense lock is likely to miss the next month of action.

It leaves the 24-year-old racing the clock to be fit for the first State of Origin game on June 8.

After the Warriors game at Magic Round, Souths face Canberra, the Wests Tigers and have been given a bye before Origin I.

Cody Walker has been named captain, while Jai Arrow will play lock against the Warriors.

NSW teammate Brian To’o told reporters at Penrith training on Tuesday that Murray’s absence from Brad Fittler’s side would be sizeable.

“He’s obviously been one of the best Blues players, [he is] very consistent even with the Bunnies,” To’o said.

“He always leads by example and works hard for the boys and he always puts the boys first.”

Meanwhile, Canberra have breathed a sigh of relief after skipper Jarrod Croker was cleared of a major shoulder injury.

Croker returned to NRL action in Friday’s 14-4 victory over Canterbury after off-season stem cell surgery on his knee, but was forced off in the second half while trying to prevent a try.

The 31-year-old has been cleared of any serious injury to his shoulder, with the Raiders confident the centre will miss just the next two to three weeks.

AAP