Maroons breathe easy as Slater cleared
Queensland coach Kevin Walters has given veteran fullback Billy Slater the all-clear to play tonight’s State of Origin series decider in Brisbane.
The Maroons had been expected to rest Slater for yesterday’s captain’s run in a bid to give him until the last minute to overcome a rolled ankle, suffered at their Gold Coast camp.
However, in a huge boost to Queensland, Walters confirmed Slater would play, before the fullback ran out to train with the Maroons at Suncorp Stadium.
‘‘He’s fine. We are expecting him to play. He’s just got to do a couple of little things to get the confidence he needs for tomorrow night,’’ Walters said.
Slater underwent light duties with the team before what might well be his last Origin for Queensland. Like Maroons halfback Cooper Cronk, Slater – a veteran of 28 games for Queensland – has not decided whether he will play on in 2018.
Queensland will definitely farewell one Maroons great tonight – five-eighth Johnathan Thurston. He will receive a pre-game tribute this evening after having his 37 Origin career ended by a shoulder injury in Queensland’s 18-16 game two win in Sydney.
Walters said the Maroons had enjoyed having Thurston in their camp for the past few days.
Thurston helped Queensland win 10 series in 11 years, playing a record 36 straight Origins.
Melbourne’s Cameron Munster will make his Origin debut, replacing Thurston at five-eighth, but the coach doesn’t expect it to faze the 22-year-old.
‘‘John has had a huge influence over the team the last 10 years,’’ Walters said.
‘‘We didn’t have him for game one [due to injury] and we didn’t get it right. Now, it is time for someone else to put their hand up but we are looking forward to seeing what Cameron Munster can offer in the No 6 jersey.’’
Walters expected Munster to be targeted.
‘‘You’d imagine so. But knowing Cameron and his defensive traits, I am sure he will be looking forward to that challenge,’’ Walters said.
‘‘His form at the Storm this year has been excellent. He has an excellent combination with his Melbourne team-mates in the Queensland side and playing an Origin at Suncorp – it doesn’t get much better than that.’’
Queensland will hope to keep their dynasty alive tonight and farewell Thurston on a winning note.
They are vying for an 11th series win in 12 years. NSW are desperate to seal just their second series triumph in the same period.
Meanwhile, NSW coach Laurie Daley has dropped his biggest hint yet at a possible exit from State of Origin, saying his job would be complete when a foundation is laid for future success.
Now in his fifth year in charge since taking over in 2013, Daley has been cagey all series on whether he would seek a sixth attempt at the Maroons.
Speaking after yesterday’s captain’s run on the Gold Coast, Daley was again reluctant to discuss his future but suggested a plan was in place for his eventual departure.
His comments come less than a day after skipper Boyd Cordner called on Daley to remain at the helm no matter the result in game three. ‘‘That’s great to hear it from someone like Boyd, but it’s not a concern or my issue,’’ Daley said. ‘‘I just want to know that this team has been set up in the right way that we can have success going forward. When you do that, you know you’ve done your job.’’
Daley’s legacy is likely to hinge on the outcome of tonight, when the former Blues champion could become just the second NSW coach to claim more than one Origin series win.
But another loss will give him the ignominious record of being the only Blues coach to suffer four series defeats against the Maroons. No other coach has lasted beyond a third series loss.
NSW under-16s and 18s coach Brad Fittler and current assistant John Cartwright have been mentioned as possible candidates to take over should the job be vacated.
The most successful Blues coach in Origin history, Phil Gould, questioned whether Daley would be able to handle the emotional toll of another series loss.
‘‘I don’t know that he likes the physical and emotional drain it leaves on him after a lost series,’’ Gould said. ‘‘If they were to lose this series, it would be devastating for him.’’