Manly forward only able to complete light training in Blues camp.
Anthony Watmough will have a shorter preparation for State of Origin II than the rest of the his teammates, with the Manly forward battling to overcoming a corked thigh.
Watmough was forced to complete training by himself as he continues to try and overcome the injury, which he picked up in his side’s 32-30 loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs last round.
Despite Watmough’s questionable playing status and the scandal surrounding Blake Ferguson’s removal from the team, Luke Lewis said the new players, Nathan Merritt, Josh Dugan and Aaron Woods, fit in well at the Blues’ camp this week.
New South Wales will be looking to end Queensland’s dominance over the last seven years by winning game two at Suncorp Stadium, a venue the Blues have not tasted victory at since 2009.
However, Ryan Hoffman said preparation is similar to the first game, which saw the Blues begin much the better in the all-important first 20 minutes of the game.
“This time of year you’re always going to have blokes with a heap of niggles,” Hoffman said of the side’s small injury concerns. .
“With the things that the guys have got, with the long turnaround we’ve got coming up to Origin, it’s not going to affect them in the game.
“You’ve just got to make sure you look after them early on in the week.
“We’ve only been in camp a couple of days.
“They’re doing round the clock rehab.
“Every time I walk past the physio room they’re in there.
“I’m sure when it comes to Sunday and Monday, they’ll be fighting fit.”
Centres Michael Jennings (ankle) and Josh Morris (knee) both ran freely, while hooker Robbie Farah (cheekbone), lock Greg Bird (groin) and fullback Josh Dugan (ankle) also took part in the field session.
COMMENTS