The old adage goes that if it ain’t broke you don’t fix it, but hell even if it’s a little banged up you can probably still limp things over the line nowadays.
Laurie Daley has named an unchanged squad for next week’s incredibly tense Origin III decider at the historic Lang Park in Brisbane, with the series locked at 1 game apiece.
Injury clouds hang over a number of key Blues players, but regardless Daley’s naming of an unchanged team means he is now the first Origin coach in 19 years to name the same team in three consecutive Origin clashes.
As far as the injury clouds are concerned, skipper Boyd Cordner is carrying a calf complaint stemming from a knock suffered in Origin II, and will be given the chance to prove his fitness later this week. Likewise, Tyson Frizell will be put through a fitness test in the hopes that injuries to his back and ribs have recovered enough for him to take the field in the all-important decider. Frizell is set to undergo scans later today to determine the extent of his injuries.
Elsewhere, James Tedesco is carrying ankle soreness, and Josh Dugan is working through a corked thigh. Both injuries are reportedly considered minor, and they are expected to take their place in the Blues lineup come next week.
Jack de Belin has been named as the Blues’ 18th man as cover, but even he is reportedly battling injury concerns of his own.
The Blues will (obviously) be buoyed by the absence of Johnathan Thurston from the Queensland lineup, with the gun veteran out for the remainder of the season with a severely fucked shoulder.
NSW have not won an Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium since 2005.
Origin III is scheduled for Wednesday, July 12th.
State vs state. Mate vs mate.
NSW BLUES FULL SQUAD:
James Tedesco, Brett Morris, Josh Dugan, Jarryd Hayne, Blake Ferguson, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Aaron Woods, Nathan Peats, Andrew Fifita, Boyd Cordner (c), Josh Jackson, Tyson Frizell.
Interchange: David Klemmer, Wade Graham, Jake Trbojevic, Jack Bird.
Source: ABC News.
Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty.
