NSW coach Laurie Daley says if there was such thing as a State of Origin dead rubber, Cooper Cronk and Josh Morris wouldn’t be pushing their bodies so hard to come back from serious injury.

Daley admitted he was surprised Cronk was included in the Queensland side after the halfback fractured his arm in Origin I.

However, he said the Blues have their own medical miracle to inspire them in Morris, who is also set to play in next Wednesday’s Origin III at Suncorp Stadium without a NRL game under his belt since damaging his knee in the Origin opener in May.

NSW made three forced changes to their squad that will attempt to come away with the first clean sweep for a Blues side since 2000 and the first time since 1996 the state has won two matches in Queensland.

Newcastle winger James McManus has been recalled for the injured Will Hopoate, Sydney Roosters forward Boyd Cordner for the suspended Anthony Watmough and Morris for wounded centre Michael Jennings.

Daley said Morris’ heroics to play on with a serious knee injury in Game I and fight his way back for Game III would set the tone for how the Blues would play in the future.

“Some of the courageous things our players have done will be on tape forever and will be shown forever,” he said.

“People, when they pull on the Blue shirt, that’s what the expectation is going to be.

“He’s enormous for us. He’s a real leader in our team – a real experienced player. To show the courage and commitment he did in game one was phenomenal.

“I think you can see what it means to Queensland, given Cooper Cronk had six weeks out with a broken arm and, first game back, he wants to play for Queensland again. I would hope that’s the attitude our players have and … and we have that in a bloke like Josh Morris.”

Daley admitted McManus hadn’t had his greatest season but had been shown faith because he’d done the job for NSW in the past.

The coach, who was involved in the last time NSW won two games in Brisbane, says he’s undecided about whether he wants to be a long-term statesman for the Blues in the same mould as Mal Meninga has been for Queensland.

NSW: Jarryd Hayne, James McManus, Josh Dugan, Josh Morris, Daniel Tupou, Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson, Paul Gallen (capt), Robbie Farah, Aaron Woods, Beau Scott, Ryan Hoffman, Greg Bird.

Interchange: Trent Merrin, Boyd Cordner, James Tamou, Luke Lewis.