Warriors Co-Captain Barnett Suffers Season-Ending ACL Injury

New Zealand Warriors co-captain and star prop Mitchell Barnett has suffered a serious knee injury, confirmed as a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture during an NRL match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. The injury occurred during a tackle attempt and has cast doubt on his availability for the upcoming State of Origin Game 2, which is just weeks away. Barnett had been in excellent form, recently winning the Simon Mannering Medal and playing a key role in New South Wales' series-opening Origin win. Despite the setback, Warriors coach Andrew Webster expressed confidence in the team’s depth, emphasizing the next man up mentality as they maintained a strong 9-3 record and a top-four position in the NRL standings. The injury is a significant blow to both the Warriors and the Blues, prompting potential lineup changes at both club and representative levels. Scan results and surgery plans are pending, with the team preparing to adapt to Barnett's absence in the near term.