Injury niggles all cleared up
QUEENSLAND’S players with injury concerns are set to receive the official all-clear ahead of next week’s State of Origin opener in Melbourne after the team trained strongly yesterday.
A day after appearing to struggle with a corked thigh, halfback Ben Hunt ran freely while fullback Billy Slater (hamstring) and lock Josh McGuire (ankle) got through their fitness tests unscathed at their Gold Coast camp.
Maroons prop Jarrod Wal- lace raised eyebrows when he iced his ankle following the session but said it was only precautionary after suffering a preseason injury.
Wallace yesterday gave an unofficial green light to the Maroons’ walking wounded.
The expected clean bill of health will be a huge relief for the Maroons, who begin life without greats Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk in Wednesday night’s Origin I.
They have lost a total of 150 Origin games’ experience, with selectors also overlooking vet- eran prop Matt Scott and Darius Boyd for the opener.
“I hope they (NSW) are sitting back thinking it is an easy win not having those players but I will tell you right now we are up for the challenge – we are pumped and ready to go,” Wallace said. “There’s no panic here. “At the end of the day Smithy, JT and Cooper – they all had to start sometime too.
“It’s a new era now, a new time. It was always going to happen and I am stoked to be a part of it because I know it will be successful.”