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http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,8977146^14823,00.html
Orford back to best
Karl deKroo
16mar04
LESS than a week after contemplating the end of his rugby league career, Melbourne Storm halfback Matt Orford will be asked to oppose the game's best player.
Orford will cap a remarkable turnaround in his fortunes today when he is selected for Storm's season-opener against Newcastle at Olympic Park on Sunday.
Cleared of a blood clot at the base of his brain, Orford has turned his attention to combating Newcastle's champion playmaker Andrew Johns.
Orford is expected to return to full training today and coach Craig Bellamy was confident the halfback would be fit to tackle the Knights.
"We will name him in the team and we are very hopeful he will play," Bellamy said.
"He is not quite 100 per cent at this stage, but he is the kind of guy we would give until the last moment to prove his fitness.
"He has been given the clearance from the specialist and now it is just a matter of how he feels."
Orford is continuing to battle an inner-ear infection, which had raised suspicions of a more serious ailment. He has told Bellamy he is desperate to play on Sunday, and the decision is likely to be left in his hands.
"He is obviously an important player for us and he will be given every chance," Bellamy said.
"But we need him to train at least a couple of times through the week if he is going to play."
Bellamy will finalise the make-up of his team today, and he conceded Orford's fitness would have a major bearing.
"There are probably 18 guys still in the mix, and that probably won't change until later in the week," he said.
Andrew McFadden is on standby for Orford after a strong performance for Brisbane Norths at the weekend.
Nathan Friend was another standout and, if Orford fails to recover, Bellamy hinted he may shift Cameron Smith to the scrumbase to make way for Friend at hooker.
"McFadden played for Norths and he went quite well," Bellamy said.
"He got through the whole game and he got involved, so we have a few options there."
Penrith recruit Steve Turner looks likely to miss the cut for the first game, with Billy Slater to win the fullback spot and Matt Geyer and Fifita Moala to be preferred on the wings.
Ben MacDougall will be in the centres, where he is likely to be partnered by Matt King.
Former Parramatta prop Alex Chan will also be in the squad.
I for one hope he can take the field, he's had some lousy luck lately, and is a quality player, good to see he won't be lost to the game, which a couple of weeks ago was on the cards.
Orford back to best
Karl deKroo
16mar04
LESS than a week after contemplating the end of his rugby league career, Melbourne Storm halfback Matt Orford will be asked to oppose the game's best player.
Orford will cap a remarkable turnaround in his fortunes today when he is selected for Storm's season-opener against Newcastle at Olympic Park on Sunday.
Cleared of a blood clot at the base of his brain, Orford has turned his attention to combating Newcastle's champion playmaker Andrew Johns.
Orford is expected to return to full training today and coach Craig Bellamy was confident the halfback would be fit to tackle the Knights.
"We will name him in the team and we are very hopeful he will play," Bellamy said.
"He is not quite 100 per cent at this stage, but he is the kind of guy we would give until the last moment to prove his fitness.
"He has been given the clearance from the specialist and now it is just a matter of how he feels."
Orford is continuing to battle an inner-ear infection, which had raised suspicions of a more serious ailment. He has told Bellamy he is desperate to play on Sunday, and the decision is likely to be left in his hands.
"He is obviously an important player for us and he will be given every chance," Bellamy said.
"But we need him to train at least a couple of times through the week if he is going to play."
Bellamy will finalise the make-up of his team today, and he conceded Orford's fitness would have a major bearing.
"There are probably 18 guys still in the mix, and that probably won't change until later in the week," he said.
Andrew McFadden is on standby for Orford after a strong performance for Brisbane Norths at the weekend.
Nathan Friend was another standout and, if Orford fails to recover, Bellamy hinted he may shift Cameron Smith to the scrumbase to make way for Friend at hooker.
"McFadden played for Norths and he went quite well," Bellamy said.
"He got through the whole game and he got involved, so we have a few options there."
Penrith recruit Steve Turner looks likely to miss the cut for the first game, with Billy Slater to win the fullback spot and Matt Geyer and Fifita Moala to be preferred on the wings.
Ben MacDougall will be in the centres, where he is likely to be partnered by Matt King.
Former Parramatta prop Alex Chan will also be in the squad.
I for one hope he can take the field, he's had some lousy luck lately, and is a quality player, good to see he won't be lost to the game, which a couple of weeks ago was on the cards.
