No injury concerns for Qld: Meninga

Queensland coach Mal Meninga has played down concerns for injured duo Matt Scott and Darius Boyd after they failed to travel with the team to their fan day in the state’s north.

Prop Scott (neck) and winger Boyd (groin) were conspicuous by their absence when the Maroons were swamped by locals during a street parade as part of their visit to Proserpine in north Queensland.

However, Meninga said Scott and Boyd were certainties to play July 8’s State of Origin series decider in Brisbane.

Scott will join the team’s Gold Coast camp later in the week after receiving treatment for a neck complaint in his hometown Townsville.

Boyd missed the fan day in order to receive treatment for an adductor strain in his groin suffered in Brisbane’s 44-22 NRL win over Newcastle on Friday night.

“He (Scott) is fine. We kept him north because we don’t want him travelling,” Meninga said.

“He’s had a cortisone injection, that’s a 48 hour job.

“The longer we keep him there relaxed and not travelling, the better the treatment.”

On Boyd, Meninga said: “He is receiving treatment. He pulled up with a strain but he’s sweet, for us it is precautionary.”

The only other players not attending the fan day were Melbourne’s Cameron Smith and Will Chambers who played on Monday night and recovering Storm halfback Cooper Cronk.

Meanwhile, Meninga said he wasn’t surprised NSW named an unchanged 17 for a must win game three.

But he did not expect hooker Robbie Farah to overcome a hand fracture.

The Blues named Farah despite suffering the injury in Wests Tigers’ loss to Penrith on Sunday.

“They are unchanged to us and that is no surprise,” he said.

“They are playing good footy at the moment so why wouldn’t you change?”

Asked if he thought Farah would play, Meninga said: “Probably not, no.”

He did not seem concerned that NSW were exploring a loophole in the Origin eligibility rules that would enable Michael Ennis to replace Farah and play next Wednesday night’s series decider even if he was suspended for one game for a high tackle at Wednesday night’s NRL judiciary.

“The rules are there so let’s go with the flow, whatever decision is made we will move forward,” he said.

More than 6,000 people flooded Proserpine’s main street for the team’s street parade on Tuesday, the biggest turnout yet for a community fan day according to QRL boss Peter Betros.

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