NSW coach Laurie Daley says experienced hardman Greg Bird will definitely come back into the Blues team for State of Origin II.
Five-eighth Josh Reynolds is contesting the grading of his grade two dangerous throw charge at the NRL Judiciary on Thursday night, and if unsuccessful he’ll miss the second game at ANZ Stadium on June 18.
Bird has won two Origin man-of-the-match awards playing at No.6 for the Blues, even though he’s most accustomed to playing in the forwards.
Pre-Origin series, Daley said he wouldn’t use Bird in the halves, but no decision had to be made in the end because the Gold Coast co-captain was suspended from Wednesday night’s Origin opener won 12-8 by NSW.
However, if Reynolds was to be rubbed out at the judiciary on Thursday, Bird looms as a leading candidate to take over at five-eighth in Sydney.
If not, Daley would most likely have to blood another inexperienced half to partner Trent Hodkinson in the shape of John Sutton, Jarrod Mullen or James Maloney.
Daley said he hadn’t given thought to a contingency plan for Reynolds, but confirmed Bird would come into the 17 somewhere.
“Yeah he’ll be back,” Daley told AAP at Sydney airport.
“I haven’t even thought about that (Bird as a five-eighth replacement) yet.”
The Blues have been ravaged by several injuries, including centre Josh Morris (knee).
The Canterbury centre said Bird would add plenty to a wounded but confident Blues side.
“Yeah Birdy’s an inspirational figure in our team and I’m sure he’ll slot back into our side and won’t let anyone down just like in every Origin he plays,” Morris said.
Reynolds spoke briefly to the media at Sydney airport ahead of his hearing, and said he would be shattered if he was forced to miss game two.
However he remains confident of earning a downgrade.
“There was no malice in it … hopefully I go in there and get a good result,” Reynolds said.
“It would be devastating (to be suspended). For them to take that off me for something like that, it would kill me. You dream about things like this.”