Brisbane master coach Wayne Bennett has slammed the NRL's scheduling, blaming fatigue for injuries to his State of Origin stars Darius Boyd and Josh McGuire.
Queensland forward McGuire is out for the season after snapping his achilles in Brisbane's 44-22 win on Friday night over Newcastle.
And Maroons winger Boyd (groin) will be monitored ahead of Monday's Queensland team announcement for July 8's Origin decider in Brisbane.
Newcastle's NSW back-rower Beau Scott also injured his shoulder early in the match.
Bennett said his injured stars were playing their third game in nine days.
"You keep hearing them say 'we are concerned about player welfare - well, nothing changes," Bennett said on ABC radio.
"They (the NRL) just don't get it; they don't understand.
"We have to do better than what we are doing.
"Darius' injury is definitely a fatigue injury.
"Is Josh McGuire's injury just the result of the fatigue factor, of three games in nine days?
"We've lost ... Origin players, because they are back playing club football - it just shouldn't happen."
Bennett last year proposed the NRL season be suspended for a month with Origin games to be played over three straight weeks.
His plan included a 10-day rest period after Origin III before the NRL season resumed.
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