Josh Reynolds says he has the skills and versatility to replace Kurt Gidley and is desperate to make his mark in the State of Origin arena.
The Canterbury five-eighth was called into camp along with South Sydney No.6 John Sutton on Tuesday evening and the pair will link up with their Blues teammates on Wednesday.
A decision on who’ll replace Kurt Gidley on the bench for the June 5 series opener will be taken later in the week with coach Laurie Daley and chief selector Bob Fulton weighing up their options after the Newcastle skipper was ruled out with a foot injury.
Gidley will be sidelined for a minimum of six weeks and is almost certain to miss the whole series for a second successive year and Daley wants to have a closer look at both Sutton and Reynolds before deciding on who’ll be the 17th man.
Daley selected Gidley because of his ability to play a number of positions and Reynolds said on Tuesday morning before news of his call-up broke, that he fits the bill.
The 24-year-old said he was disappointed to miss out to James Maloney for the five-eighth berth but claimed he’d be well suited to a bench spot.
“That is how I grew up, I played every position and if Laurie was to ask me to play that utility role that I would definitely be up to it,” Reynolds said.
“I play a bit of hooker and I play a bit of lock.
“It’s good to be in the picture and I am not going to lie, it was a tad disappointing not be selected originally.
“When I’ve seen Laurie around he’s told me to keep playing tough footy, that’s all I can do.”
Sutton is playing the best football of his career with ladder-leading South Sydney and coach Michael Maguire has credited him with playing a huge role in the development of halfback Adam Reynolds.
At 190cm and 105kg, the 28-year-old has the size to cope in Origin and if selected he’ll become the first Rabbitohs player since Craig Wing in 2009 to play for the Blues.
Melbourne back-rower Ryan Hoffman linked up with the NSW squad on Tuesday for the first time since 2008 having being given an extra 24 hours with his new-born son Zach who was born last Wednesday.
“It’s been a very exciting few days, my little boy came 10 days early so he looked after me and I didn’t have to worry it clashing with the game,” Hoffman said.
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind but I am here now and ready to help NSW win Origin.”
While Hoffman has enjoyed a taste of camp before it was all very new to hard-running Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita, who was still at school when the Blues last won a series in 2005.
“It’s good to be here, I couldn’t wait to tell all my family when I heard the news,” Fifita said.
“I know what my job is and hopefully I can bring a bit of spark off the bench.”
