Cordner looking good for Origin III

NSW BLUES skipper Boyd Cordner stands to be given a green light for the Origin decider after powering through a key fitness session ahead of game three at Suncorp Stadium.

Team-mate James Maloney was in full voice as Cordner finally took to the training paddock yesterday, bellowing ‘he’s good to go!’ as the Roosters backrower was clapped onto Cudgen Park to test his injured calf.

With the rest of the team already in their huddle, Cordner was the last man to emerge and given the kind of welcome that shows what a key figure he has become for NSW in such a short space of time.

NSW will be hoping Maloney’s prediction rings true and the odds are now squarely in Cordner’s favour, even if he has officially been given until the captain’s run on Tuesday to eradicate any doubts.

In a hit-out closely scrutinised by Blues medical and highperformance staff, Cordner was put through his paces while the main group went through a field session in their northern NSW base.

He had already put in some decent kilometres on an antigravity treadmill but the sprint testing was always going to be the key decider.

He appeared to move freely as he upped the speed and acceleration before some directional drills to complete the work.

The NSW camp were happy with the results and will now monitor his recovery overnight. But the Blues are now bullish that Cordner will be the man leading them out on Wednesday night.

The session was closed to media after 10 minutes but there were plenty of keen punters peering over fences and through the hession barricades as coach Laurie Daley put his squad through their paces.

If there are no secrets in rugby league, there are definitely none in Kingscliff, with kids clambering on top of cars to take in training.

Daley has enjoyed the luxury of heading into both games with the same 17 and should do so again, with Cordner likely to be given the all clear. Tyson Frizzell, the other main injury concern, looks certain to play with a rib injury that will require a needle on the night.

Queensland, on the other hand, are missing gun back Darius Boyd (thumb) and champion fiveeighth Johnathan Thurston (shoulder), with Cameron Munster starting at six and Michael Morgan in the centres as part of a major backline reshuffle.

NSW will up the workload again today with an opposed session, which stands as the final barricade for Cordner’s inclusion.

NSW back-rower Wade