Queensland coach Mal Meninga has dismissed reports centre Dane Nielsen is carrying an injury on the eve of Wednesday night’s State of Origin series decider against NSW at Suncorp Stadium.
Neilson reportedly entered Origin camp last week with a chest injury but Meninga was adamant the Melbourne Storm star was 100 per cent fit and ready to go.
The Queensland coach said the return from injury of Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday and debut of aggressive Broncos utility Ben Te’o would add some grunt to the Maroons forward pack which had been shoved around in the first two matches in Melbourne and Sydney.
“That’s Origin – it is aggressive,” said Meninga before Queensland’s final training session at Suncorp Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
“We have been outmuscled in games one and two in particular at times, and it’s something we need to address.”
Meninga however said his players would not go over the top with the aggression and would play the game within the rules and with a fair amount of discipline.
NSW also held their final training run in Brisbane on Tuesday afternoon, feeling the pressure to end Queensland’s run of six straight series wins.