NSW Origin coach Ricky Stuart can't name team for decider
David Riccio
THE NSW Blues are in crisis, with coach Ricky Stuart unable to name a team today for the Origin III decider at Suncorp Stadium on July 6.
Instead of naming 17 players at tonight's team announcement at Coogee, Stuart will name an extended squad of 20 - and possibly more.
The extent of the turmoil emerged yesterday as The Sunday Telegraph also learned:
* Star utility Kurt Gidley secretly travelled to Sydney for treatment on a hamstring injury that has ruled him out of the Knights' clash with the Roosters today;
* If Gidley is ruled out, Dally M Medal winner Todd Carney could be considered as his replacement;
* Tomorrow night's match between Manly and St George Illawarra at WIN Stadium in Wollongong is causing havoc with the Blues' preparation for what is being billed as the biggest game in Origin history.
Up to 12 contenders for the NSW team will line up tomorrow night, while hopefuls Michael Jennings (ankle), Ben Creagh (ankle) and Gidley (hamstring) are struggling to be fit for the decider.
The situation is so dire that Stuart is bracing himself for the shortest Origin preparation NSW have ever encountered.
He probably won't be able to train with his full squad until Thursday as the Blues look to end Queensland's five-year Origin reign.
Stuart was reluctant to discuss the make-up of his team yesterday, simply because he didn't know who would be available for selection for the match in 10 days. The injury to Gidley, who strained his hamstring on Friday, only muddies the picture even further.
"I honestly can't speculate on any players or the make-up of the side because of the situation we're in at the moment. It's far from ideal," Stuart said.
"Because of the Monday night game, where there's more than a handful of NSW players playing, it's hard to know if they'll be available.
"Of course, I hope I have the same players available for selection but injuries do occur, while the players also need to be given adequate time to recover. It's why I'll probably end up naming a squad as opposed to a select group of 17."
In a bid to be fit for the decider, Gidley spent the night at the Crowne Plaza in Coogee with NSW Blues physiotherapist Andrew Gray working on the injury last night.
Stuart admitted the injury was a concern for Gidley while also failing to rule out Carney as a possible replacement.
"I'm watching every game this weekend and if Todd is playing, I'll be watching him," Stuart said.
"He would need to produce a pretty special 80-minute performance.
There's a good chance Kurt might be OK, so it would be a bit presumptuous to discuss any alternative anyway."
Last month, Stuart flagged the disastrous scheduling of tomorrow night's fixture between NRL high-flyers Manly and the Dragons.
It led him to asking players from both clubs to stand down from the Monday night game just moments after the Blues kept the series alive with their brave victory in game two.
Stuart will now watch with bated breath as NSW candidates Anthony Watmough, Jason King, Brett Stewart and Glenn Stewart (Manly) and Mark Gasnier, Brett Morris, Jamie Soward, Dean Young, Trent Merrin, Beau Scott, Matt Prior and Creagh (St George Illawarra) do battle.
The fitness of Panthers centre Jennings and second-rower Creagh are causing Stuart plenty of concern.
Jennings has not played since injuring his ankle playing for Penrith the weekend after starring in Origin I. He is racing the clock to be fit to fill the void left by Manly's Will Hopoate, who is out for a month after tearing his hamstring scoring a crucial try in game two.
Stuart has earmarked Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne as a potential left centre, but there is a concern that the Eels star could be shown up if he were to mark Justin Hodges.
Merrin will remain in the NSW team as long as he comes through tomorrow night's match injury-free.
