Blues coach Michael Maguire has discussed the possible inclusions of Nathan Cleary and Tom Trbojevic ahead of Origin III with the star duo set to make their long-awaited returns from injury.
Cleary has been sidelined since Round 10 and was expected to miss the entire State of Origin series but reportedly could return to the field sooner than first thought, while Trbojevic has been named at centre for Manly to face the Cowboys on Sunday in Townsville.
It would be a huge move to bring Cleary back following current Blues’ halfback Mitchell Moses’ stellar Game II performance which saw the Maroons blown off the park in a 38-18 drubbing in Melbourne.
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“I’ve got to get through next week’s games, so that’s the first thing,” Maguire told the Matty Johns Podcast, which will be aired on Tuesday night after NRL360.
“That’s the one thing I have learned that you can’t pick a team until you get to the Sunday night and work out what’s what and who’s fit and who’s not.”
However, Maguire said if Moses got through Thursday night’s clash against the Rabbitohs unscathed, then he had a clear selection favourite for Game III.
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“I have had a lot of discussions with Nathan (Cleary) all the way through and I know what he would say,” he said.
“You don’t change what’s working and I think where we are moving towards where we want to build and having Mitch and Jarome, touch wood, that they all get through.
“We’re building something very strong amongst that spine so moving forward you can see where we’re going.”
Meanwhile, Maguire said Trbojevic would likely be part of the New South Wales camp, but not as a player.
“Tommy is much the same, really (as Cleary),” he said.
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“Tommy will float in and around the camp if he’s got the ability to get there and that’s something there that they’ve all done.
“Nathan came up and Tommy came up, and when I first sort of started I used those boys as leaders amongst the group to get a bit of an idea of how things were travelling.
“But as I said I am really confident with the group that I’ve got.”
Meanwhile, Maguire touched on Latrell Mitchell’s much-hyped return to the Origin arena and detailed Angus Crichton’s rugby league resurgence.
Tune in tonight following NRL 360!
