NSW captain Boyd Cordner’s chances of being fit for the State of Origin decider have improved after training for the first time since game two on Saturday.
Cordner was limited to straight line running with the Blues’ medical staff in Cudgen, but is now considered a near-certainty to run out at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday.
It was the first time he had taken to the field since injuring his calf late in the Blues’ defeat in Origin II in Sydney, and teammates were hopeful their skipper would lead them out.
“He’ll try and do a bit of running today maybe, we’ll see when we get out there,” teammate Wade Graham said before the one-hour session.
“He’s in good spirits, so we’ve all got our fingers crossed for him and obviously we’ll know more over the weekend when he really starts testing it out.”
Graham admits Cordner’s possible withdrawal would be a big loss five days out from the game.
“He’s our captain. We’ve been fortunate enough to be able to keep the same side throughout the series, it wouldn’t feel quite the same if Boydy’s not there,” he said.
“But we’re all pretty positive and he’s in a good frame of mind which is important. Time will tell.”
Should Cordner fail to recover in time, Graham is expected to fill the left-edge role, with 18th man Jack de Belin promoted to the bench for what would be his Origin debut.
Graham said the St George Illawarra backrower would be ready to produce if called upon.
“Even when you come to these camps as 18th man with no injuries, that you prepare as if you’re going to play anyway. That’s your job,” he said.
“You do that in NRL. These days they have 18-19 players you carry each week because the game’s pretty fickle – one little thing and there can be injury.”
Forward Tyson Frizell is also all but certain to play despite being hampered by a combination of rib and back injuries.
“They’re hard injuries, but he’s carrying it for a while now. He showed over the last 4-5 weeks, he can manage that through a game and next Wednesday will be no different,” Graham said.
The Blues will hold their second opposed session of their preparation on Sunday.