Blues stars cleared for Origin III as Daley weighs up pack shuffle

5 days ago 9

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Blues winger Brian To’o has been cleared of any serious knee injury and will be available to take his place on the flank for NSW in next Wednesday’s State of Origin decider.

To’o was the Blues best player in Origin II despite a limited preparation due to a hamstring concern and was sent for precautionary scans on a knee issue picked up in Penrith’s 8-6 upset of Canterbury last Thursday.

The Panthers confirmed on Sunday that scan results showed no serious damage after To’o played on with his left knee strapped after a first-half knock.

Blues staff are also comfortable with To’o’s fitness and any need to manage his training loads ahead of the July 9 clash given he barely trained ahead of game two, when he scored a hat-trick and ran for 229 metres.

To’o’s citing for a high tackle on Bulldogs centre Bronson Xerri briefly raised concerns of him being rubbed out of Origin III, though the match review committee deemed the tackle not worthy of charge.

NSW coach Laurie Daley is set to name his squad for the decider on Sunday evening after hooker Reece Robson plays for North Queensland in the last game of round 17.

One of few selection calls being considered by the Blues is whether Rabbitohs forward Keaon Koloamatangi unseats a front-rower - either Max King or Stefano Utoikamanu - given Koloamatangi has the advantage of also being able to play on the edge.

Raiders back-rower Hudson Young was rested by Canberra this weekend as he manages an ongoing groin issue, which required a cortisone injection, but he is not in doubt for Blues selection.

Jarome Luai will be right to go into NSW camp.

Tigers half Jarome Luai is expected to overcome the infection that hospitalised him last week and forced him out of Wests Tigers’ 28-10 loss to Manly on Friday night.

Tigers coach Benji Marshall said Luai could have played had the game been “another 24 or 48 hours later”, and there is little concern that an infected boil on his chest will impact his preparation.

Rising Dolphins star Isaiya Katoa has earned a call-up as a wider squad member given his side has a bye this weekend and the 21-year-old is widely regarded as an Origin player of the future.

Canterbury’s Matt Burton is set to remain first-choice back-up half to Nathan Cleary and Luai as 18th man.

Daley has long been a fan of Katoa, and told this masthead as early as April that he regards the Dolphins halfback as a NSW player in waiting.

“I really like him as a player. He has all the right tools to play Origin at some point,” Daley said.

“I love how square he goes to the line. He runs the ball and when he does that he is so dangerous. Massive future in front of him.”

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