NSW State of Origin coach Ricky Stuart finally caught a break with Manly forward Anthony Watmough easing any fears over his availability for the series opener.
Watmough trudged off Suncorp Stadium on Friday night without feeling in his right arm following a heavy hit in Manly’s last-minute NRL win over Brisbane.
It appeared to be the latest episode in a sorry Origin preparation for the Blues – who will already be without Newcastle duo Kurt Gidley and Danny Buderus due to injury, while several other contenders are battling issues.
But, commenting on Twitter, Watmough said he would be right to go for the May 23 clash, with the NSW side to be named on Sunday.
“Hey guys neck is fine just a burner got all feeling back now so look forward to next wk thanks for all the tweets,” Watmough wrote.
But while Watmough appears to be in the clear, there is still a question mark over Sea Eagles and likely Blues teammate Glenn Stewart, who could be in hot water for a high tackle on Broncos No.6 Corey Norman.
The incident wasn’t put on report, but replays seemed to show Stewart clipping Norman on the jaw with a swinging arm – and given the Manly lock would have loading for his role in last year’s Brookvale Oval brawl with Adam Blair – even the most minor charge could jeopardise his Origin I chances.
It’s little wonder then that Blues coach Ricky Stuart this week said he couldn’t wait until he finally had his players in camp, given he has been forced to alter his plans on several occasions due to form and fitness.
But the recent weeks haven’t been all bad for Stuart, who has seen his halves combination of Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce distinguish themselves from the pack of contenders.
Incumbent No.7 Pearce was in danger of giving up his jersey until finding career-best form over the past month – starting with a starring performance for City against Country.
Carney was initially the default option as the best of a struggling group of five-eighths, but his performance in a losing Cronulla side on Monday night was as good as anything he produced during his Dally M winning season at Sydney Roosters in 2010.
Stuart said the rise of the key duo was a good sign.
“You look at the Melbourne players (Queensland trio Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk) – you find most Origin players over the years start revving up about round six, round seven, round eight leading into the Test match or leading into Origin,” Stuart said.
“That’s the sign of an Origin player where they know it’s around the corner.”
Stuart still faces agonising decisions over whether to take a risk on enigmatic duo Michael Jennings and Jarryd Hayne, while the injury to Gidley has given the Blues coach the option to carry impact back-rowers Tony Williams – fresh off a seven-week suspension – and North Queensland’s Tariq Sims on the bench.
Possible NSW squad: Brett Stewart, Brett Morris, Michael Jennings, Jarryd Hayne, Akuila Uate, Todd Carney, Mitchell Pearce, Paul Gallen (capt), Robbie Farah, James Tamou, Anthony Watmough, Luke Lewis, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Greg Bird, Tony Williams, Tariq Sims, Tim Mannah.
