NSW will be sweating on words that halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai are both fit to take their place in State of Origin III, while all eyes are on potential changes to the forward pack.
Cleary battled a groin injury in a Game Two loss in Perth but came through Penrith’s thrilling win over the Bulldogs on Thursday — though he again did not kick goals, which proved a game-changing problem for the Blues in Origin II.
Luai, meanwhile, missed Wests Tigers’ defeat against Manly on Friday after being hospitalised with an infection. He isn’t expected to miss the Origin decider and the Blues have said they will be patient with his recovery if necessary, keen to keep him in place after already losing Mitchell Moses in the wake of an Origin I victory.
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Cleary said after Thursday’s game that he felt fit and ready to go, as NSW try to retain the Origin shield on home soil in Sydney.
“It was good. Didn’t really have any scares at all,” he said.
“I think this week I got two solid training sessions in. I’m thankful for the Penrith and NSW physios who put a lot of work into me, which got me into the right headspace to play.”
With the Blues all but winning in Perth, coach Laurie Daley is not expected to ring in major changes — though he may be able to boost the potency of his pack.
Rabbitohs prop Keaon Koloamatangi has garnered most interest as a potential recall, in place of Storm front-rower Stefano Utoikamanu; who was quiet off the bench in Origin II and then clearly outpointed in a head-to-head battle against his Souths rival last weekend. Koloamatangi had a strong but unspectacular game on Saturday in a thrashing from the Dolphins (86 run metres, 34 tackles), so Utoikamanu can stake a fresh claim for retention when the Storm face the Sharks on Sunday afternoon.
Bulldogs prop Max King played just 26 minutes in Origin II after being elevated to start but then ran 141m and made 42 tackles in the loss to Penrith.
NSW bench utility Connor Watson’s place has also been questioned, with a potential switch to Apisai Koroisau touted. Watson had a bye this weekend with the Roosters, missing a final chance to impress.
PREDICTED NSW TEAM — to be named Sunday night (time TBA)
1. Dylan Edwards
2. Brian To’o
3. Stephen Crichton
4. Latrell Mitchell
5. Zac Lomax
6. Jarome Luai
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Max King
9. Reece Robson
10. Payne Haas
11. Liam Martin
12. Angus Crichton
13. Isaah Yeo (c)
14. Connor Watson
15. Spencer Leniu
16. Hudson Young
17. Stefano Utoikamanu/Keaon Koloamatangi
