Moses parks ego as Blues’ injury cloud darkens
Murray Wenzel |
A pair of NSW stars will need to prove their fitness on State of Origin eve while playmaker Mitchell Moses is adamant he can co-exist with Nathan Cleary in the Blues spine.
After a week of rain-drenched preparations at home, Monday’s session at sunny Ballymore in Brisbane tossed up more drama with Stephen Crichton joining Payne Haas under an injury cloud.
All eyes were on prop Haas, who is yet to train fully with the squad as he battles a quadriceps complaint.
But star centre Crichton added to the Blues’ headaches when he too limped off early with his upper leg wrapped in ice.
The Blues are hopeful his issue is no more than a corked quadriceps muscle, the setback a headache for returning coach Laurie Daley ahead of Tuesday’s captain’s run at Suncorp Stadium.
Meanwhile Parramatta halfback Moses on Monday fine-tuned his fresh partnership with Penrith No.7 Cleary in an opposed session with Queensland Cup outfit Wynnum Manly.
Cleary and Moses have worn the Blues’ No.7 in all but two of 21 Origins since 2018, but will play together for the first time after returning coach Laurie Daley overlooked Cleary’s former Penrith sidekick Jarome Luai.
It will mark just the sixth game in 129 Origins, spanning 45 years – and the first time in a decade – that NSW have partnered two traditional No.7s in the halves.
Moses will defend on the unfamiliar left side and said he had no problem sharing the stage with the Panthers’ puppet master.
“Every half has an ego, otherwise you wouldn’t be in the position, to be honest,” he said ahead of his sixth Origin appearance.
“It’s about putting it to the side and what’s best for the team, and we’re going to do that.
“It’s very clear, been clear from day one. We sat down, spoke about what’s going on, what the game plan is and worked it out, and hopefully we’ll put it into work on Wednesday.”
Exactly what “it” is remains a mystery, with the Blues’ training sessions mostly behind closed doors.
“Do you want to know everything?” Moses smiled.
“You’ll have to see Wednesday night I guess; we know what we’re trying to do here.”
Haas showed he was still no certainty to recover from a quadriceps injury and run out on Wednesday as he completed his own fitness drills to the side.
Melbourne prop Stefano Utoikamanu is on stand-by for Haas, while Campbell Graham, who filled in after Crichton’s injury on Monday, would replace the Canterbury skipper.
“He was able to do most of the stuff,” Blues utility Connor Watson said of Haas.
“He’s super important for us, been one of the main parts of this Origin team … as soon as he started playing first grade.
“(He has had) such a great impact on the game, so powerful, so fit, a real joy to play with.”
AAP
