Ben Creagh says there will be no rejoicing in the NSW camp after Billy Slater was ruled out of next week’s State of Origin decider in Brisbane and believes his absence will not weaken the Maroons too greatly.

Slater will miss his first game since 2008 after admitting defeat in his battle to recover from a posterior cruciate ligament injury, with Mal Meninga switching Greg Inglis to fullback and naming Dane Nielsen in the centres on Friday.

Matt Bowen and Dave Taylor have been released from camp, with Brisbane’s Ben Te’o named for his Origin debut for next Wednesday’s encounter at Suncorp Stadium.

“Billy is the best fullback in the world but Greg has been playing great there for the Rabbitohs and will do the same for Queensland,” Creagh said on Friday at Blues training.

“It would have been a massive call for Billy to make, but if you are not 100 per cent right in a big game with a lot at stake then it’s probably the right call.”

“They will still be a tough team on Wednesday night, the series is 1-1 and they are at home and the side they are putting up for us will give us a massive test.”

Once again Glenn Stewart’s knee will be tested by the Blues medical team at Kogarah Oval on Friday.

The Manly star is battling a partially torn medial ligament and is yet to train with the rest of the team, with Beau Scott on stand-by to take his place should he miss the game.

Stewart ran for half-an-hour on Thursday and a Blues official said he pulled up fine 24 hours later.

The 28-year-old will do the same again on Friday and should his knee not swell up, and he responds well to tests from the team physios then he will be kept on in camp.

With NSW coach Ricky Stuart keen to give Stewart as long as it takes for him to get himself right for the game, Scott could potentially miss out on playing for St George Illawarra on Monday against Canberra.