Penrith 2021 vibes as Blues brave litany of injuries
Scott Bailey |
Liam Martin says there are similar vibes in the NSW Origin camp to Penrith’s heroic 2021 NRL premiership, with several players defying injuries to feature in the decider.
Payne Haas on Wednesday revealed he had a bulging disc in his lower back, which required him to be needled in Brisbane on Monday before flying to Sydney.
Brian To’o is battling a grade-two ligament tear in his knee and won’t run until at least Saturday, while Hudson Young (groin) was the third player to sit out NSW’s opening training session in the Blue Mountains on Wednesday.
Jarome Luai also avoided any contact due to the chest wound that caused his infection and three-night hospital stay last weekend, while halves partner Nathan Cleary is managing a groin issue.
Penrith built a “climbing Everest” theme around the 2021 premiership win, with Dylan Edwards, To’o and Cleary among a nine-strong injured brigade to feature in that grand final.
So ugly did things get, a 16-year-old Jett Cleary and Cameron Ciraldo’s son teenage boy Kai were filling numbers at training.
Close to half of that Penrith side are in NSW camp this week, and Martin said it had served as an inspiration since then that anything was possible with the group.
“That ’21 run is probably the most incredible thing. We still talk about it and what we managed to do that year,” Martin said.
“This is similar vibes, just the toughness of the group.
“Bizza (To’o) in particular. I’ve played a few games where he’s finished the game and it’s turned out he’s done his syndesmosis, stuff like that.
“The toughness is incredible, they (all) continue to surprise you. I’ve got every faith that they’ll be right for the game.”
No one has typified that toughness more than Haas during this year’s Origin series.
The Brisbane prop barely trained in the lead-up to Origin I due to a quad tear, before being man of the match in NSW series-opening win at Suncorp.
The bulging disc in his back has also proven a pain since the start of the season, despite being the Broncos’ best forward almost every week this year.
“Every time I get the chance to play with him, I’m in awe of him, he’s just a generational freak, just what he can do,” Martin said.
“I absolutely love playing with him and can’t wait to do it again.
“Game one, didn’t train all week, was put on ice. And then he come out and seeing how he played is just incredible.”
Haas himself was also adamant there is no risk of him missing next Wednesday night’s decider at Accor Stadium, or that the bulging disc would in any way hold him back.
“I’m just resting up now, but I’ll be doing some running tomorrow … No chance (I’ll be missing),” Haas said.
“I had a bit of swelling down my lower back, and then got a minor disc bulge.
“I had a needle on Monday … It’s all good.”
AAP
