Tonga hopeful on scans

North Queensland centre Willie Tonga is hopeful of good news when he receives results of scans on his injured shoulder tomorrow (Friday).

The former Canterbury player sustained the injury playing for Queensland in Wednesday night’s 16-12 victory of New South Wales in game one of the State of Origin series.

He underwent an MRI scan this morning but will have to wait until Friday to hear the full extent of any damage.

“We’re hopeful that the damage is not too serious,” Cowboys General Manager – Football Peter Parr said this morning.

Tonga partially dislocated his left shoulder as he leapt for a high ball alongside NSW fullback Josh Dugan early in the first half, but was squashed as the pair crashed to the ground.

“The trainer said ‘He’s no good, He’s no good’, but he toughed it out,” coach Mal Meninga said.

“I think it should go down in the annals as one of the bravest performances by a Queensland player ever because we needed him.

“He hung in there tough and some of the defence he came up with with that shoulder was outstanding.”