St George Illawarra back-rower Beau Scott says he’s done all he can to push his case for a State of Origin recall as the Blues weigh up how to replace injured star Glenn Stewart.
Stewart suffered a medial ligament tear in Monday night’s loss to Melbourne – the diagnosed 3-4 week layoff sending Blues coach Ricky Stuart scurrying through his list of forward alternatives for the series decider on July 4.
Along with Scott, Melbourne veteran Ryan Hoffman and Newcastle’s Chris Houston are on the running to fill Stewart’s role for game three, with Manly’s Tony Williams considered too big a gamble even if he overcomes the back injury he suffered in the Origin opener.
“I guess it’s out of my hands now, I’ve done all I can do to push my stake for that,” Scott said of playing in Origin III, with the team to be named on Sunday.
“I’d love to be back in the mix of things, definitely going into such an important game in Queensland – I missed out on playing (game three) last year because I was a bit crook.”
Scott was unavailable for this year’s opening game after dislocating his elbow in the Anzac Day win over the Sydney Roosters, but says he is feeling great four games into is comeback.
Against Gold Coast on Friday night he came up with 37 tackles and 13 runs for 105 metres in a typically robust display.
“Getting back there slowly – it probably took me a little longer than I expected coming back, mainly the confidence factor,” he said after the win over the Titans.
“But I’ve come out of tonight’s game pretty happy – we’ll go forward from here.”
Williams is not expected to play against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday, which means the only football he would have played since early March would have been his cameo off the bench for NSW in game one of the series.
Despite his obvious potential to cause damage, it would be seen as a huge risk for Stuart to take the punt on him.
Filling Stewart’s back row berth seems to be the Blues only selection issue, with winger Akuila Uate set to be handed a reprieve despite less than adequate performances in the opening two games.
Likely NSW squad: Brett Stewart, Jarryd Hayne, Josh Morris, Michael Jennings, Akuila Uate, Todd Carney, Mitchell Pearce, James Tamou, Robbie Farah, Tim Grant, Greg Bird, Beau Scott, Paul Gallen (capt). Interchange: Luke Lewis, Ben Creagh, Trent Merrin, Beau Scott.