NSW’s stocks continue to rise ahead of State of Origin II on Wednesday night, with veteran back-rower Luke Lewis saying he’s on track to be 100 per cent fit.
The only Blues squad member to have won an Origin series, Lewis required a cortisone injection last week to remove fluid in his knee which had plagued him since NSW’s 12-8 victory over Queensland in game one in Brisbane.
After taking five days off training, the 30-year-old is progressing nicely and said he enjoyed a pain-free session at the Blues’ Coffs Harbour base on Saturday.
“The knee’s feeling pretty good,” he said.
“The last couple of days I’ve done all the sessions and done a few extra sessions with a bit of fitness to see how it’s gone and so far so good.
“There’s no pain there at the moment, but we’ll just take it each day as it comes.
“But I’m pretty confident it’s going to be spot on come Wednesday.”
Lewis has been working around the clock with the Blues physios to ensure he’s able to line up for his 16th Origin encounter.
“They’ve been great, keeping it pretty good so far,” he said.
“There’s been no fluid come back yet, but I’ll just keep tracking it day by day.
“It’s just a matter of keeping an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t blow up.”
Only fullback Jarryd Hayne (18) and skipper Paul Gallen (16) have played more Origin games than the 30-year-old utility.
It’s been a decade since Lewis, as a wide-eyed 20-year-old winger, won an interstate series and he’s relishing the chance to reign again with the success-starved Blues.
“I love the opportunity and I can’t wait for Wednesday,” he said.
“Fingers crossed we can do the job.”