Greg Bird looks certain to play in the State of Origin decider next Wednesday with NSW doctor Nathan Gibbs saying the Gold Coast star is ahead of schedule in his recovery from an ankle injury.
Bird and Blues skipper Paul Gallen didn’t join in full training with the rest of the squad at Coogee Oval on Thursday morning. Instead they were put through their paces by the medical team in performing some light stretching and stepping.
Bird injured ankle ligaments during the Gold Coast’s loss to Penrith in Darwin on Saturday and reported for camp on Monday afternoon wearing a protective moonboot.
But Gibbs said because there was no structural damage to the joint the 29-year-old should be free to face Queensland at ANZ Stadium.
“We still have to do a bit more contact work with him but considering he couldn’t walk at all on Monday it’s been a good turnaround and a very good indicator that he’ll be fit,” Gibbs said.
“He had a lot of bleeding around the ankle which was making it quite painful, but once that resolved, the actual injury itself is OK.”
However, Gibbs was more circumspect about Gallen’s chances and said he needs to see more from him in Friday’s session before a decision can be made on whether he can take part in Sunday’s opposed session at Allianz Stadium.
Gallen is struggling with a foot problem that’s sidelined him since game two in Brisbane but has been receiving around the clock treatment at the team hotel in a bid to prove his fitness.
“The plan was always to do a bit of running with Gal tomorrow (Friday), but he did some stepping and walking today and he wasn’t too bad at all.
“We’ll see how he pulls up after tomorrow but I would like to see him do more than he did today … he’s still not out of the woods yet but I reckon they are both ahead of schedule.”