An insight into how badly Brisbane NRL forward Sam Thaiday is struggling with a calf injury looks set to test Queensland selectors’ famous loyalty ahead of the State of Origin series opener.
Maroons coach Mal Meninga claimed he would stick with his incumbent back row for May 28’s game one in Brisbane, telling the Seven Network that Thaiday would “be there” despite a month spent on the sidelines.
However, Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin painted a grim picture after ruling Thaiday out of their derby clash with Gold Coast when his ex-skipper was again a no-show at training on Thursday.
“At the moment, it’s not about playing football … he can’t get through a couple of run throughs,” he said.
When pressed about Thaiday’s Origin game-one prospects, Griffin said: “I would have to speak to our (medical) guys and speak to Sam about that.
“That (game one) is a couple of weeks away – a lot can change in a couple of weeks.
“At the moment, he would be doubtful.”
Thaiday was all smiles when he fronted the media on Monday and gave himself the green light for Friday night’s Suncorp Stadium clash with the Titans.
“At the start of the week, he was (a chance of playing) but he just keeps having little problems with the calf,” Griffin said.
“We have to be patient with him. It’s frustrating for everyone.
“But sometimes with calf injuries, they can be like that – up and down.
“He’s got a couple of little things going on there – we will wait and see how he recovers.”
Thaiday has not played since the round-six clash with the Titans on April 11 and his plight looks set to challenge Queensland’s selectors before they name their team on Monday night.
Either way, the door appears ajar for in-form Gold Coast wrecking ball David Taylor to end his two-year Origin exile and Broncos forward Josh McGuire to push his game-one claims.
Apart from Thaiday, a question mark looms over fellow Maroons back-row incumbents Chris McQueen and Josh Papalii who have had limited playing time at their respective clubs South Sydney and Canberra this year.
Meninga will attend the Raiders’ Sunday clash with Penrith to run the rule over Papalii while selector Alan Smith will assess McQueen – who has had less minutes off the bench in 2014 – at the Rabbitohs-Melbourne game on Friday night.
Papalii appears most at risk of being cut after recently being dropped to Queensland Cup.
Maroons chairman of selectors Des Morris will head to Suncorp on Friday night to cast his eye over Taylor, McGuire and Queensland’s other back-row incumbents Corey Parker, Matt Gillett and Ben Te’o.
