NSW are expected to name a replacement for the injured Kurt Gidley early on Tuesday evening after the Newcastle skipper was ruled out of next week’s opening State of Origin game with a foot injury.
Gidley was confident of being fit to face Queensland at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday week but the problem was deemed more serious than first anticipated at his medical on Monday afternoon and he returned to the Knights on Tuesday morning.
Coach Laurie Daley and chief selector Bob Fulton were still weighing up who to bring in for Gidley on Tuesday, with no obvious candidate to replace the versatile 30-year-old’s ability to cover several positions.
South Sydney five-eighth John Sutton was believed to be a strong contender and can operate in the back-row and Penrith prop Tim Grant was also being considered.
Grant performed well in games two and three in last year’s series and skipper Paul Gallen has expressed a preference for another big man.
Naming his team on Sunday, Daley admitted Grant was unlucky to miss out on selection, saying his form has been one of the main factors in Penrith’s recent turnaround.
Debutant prop Andrew Fifita, who linked up with the rest of the team for the first time after his man of the match performance against South Sydney for Cronulla on Monday night, gave his backing to Grant.
“He’s got the experience at this level, he’s a big bopper and is playing well,” Fifita said.
“But I have no idea what way the selectors are going.”
With Daley expressing a desire for a more mobile set of forwards, it could see the 194cm Grant overlooked once again.
If that was the case, Fifita said his Cronulla teammate Wade Graham, who has developed into a back-rower after starting his career in the halves at Penrith, should be in the mix.
“Wade can play pretty much anywhere, except maybe the wing,” he said.
“I’d love to see him here, but it’s not really for me to say. I am just happy to be here for the first time myself.”