THE build-up to last night's State of Origin at ANZ Stadium was marred by a neck injury to an eight-year-old Mini-Mod player in the pre-match entertainment.

The second half of the curtain-raiser between the NSW and Queensland under-16s was cut short by five minutes after the injury, which occurred during a half-time under-8s game.

Lachlan Dooley, playing for the Carlingford Cougars, lay motionless for several minutes and was taken from the field in a Medicab 15 minutes after being injured.

Officials said he had previously suffered a neck injury while playing in his backyard, and medical staff took all precautions, placing him in a neck brace and taking him to the Children's Hospital at Westmead. Officials hoped the youngster had simply suffered a flare-up of the pre-existing injury.

Glenn Jackson