NSW United: Hurt players attend the Blues camp as a show of solidarity
The NSW camp in the Blue Mountains has welcomed injured Origin players Nathan Cleary, Cameron Murray, and Tom Trbojevic as the Blues intensify their preparations for the series opener at Accor Stadium next week.
At Wednesday morning’s NSW training session, which was held at Blue Mountains Grammer School—a soccer pitch that has been transformed into a rugby league field the Blues will use throughout the Origin series—Cleary was a diligent spectator. Murray went to lunch with the Blues at their Leura hotel with Cleary, and Trbojevic was supposed to come in camp later. Jake, Trbojevic’s brother, will captain NSW for the first time on June 5.
Coincidentally, it is anticipated that one of Cleary or Murray would have assumed the captaincy if they had been fit, as new manager Michael Maguire chose to bench veteran fullback James Tedesco in favor of Dylan Edwards at fullback.
Under Tedesco, the two were vice captains. However, with Murray out due to a hip injury and Cleary ripping his hamstring, Trbojevic will make history by being the first Blues captain to not lead his club team since Brad Fittler in 1996.The presence of the three injured players in camp is another indication of the Blues alumni’s togetherness, as 85 previous players joined Maguire’s squad for dinner on Monday. Maguire wants all of NSW to come together in support of the team.
Before arriving to the Blues hotel, Cleary saw the meeting with Frank Ponissi, the manager of the NSW team. Angus Crichton, a second-row player for the Blues, stated, “It is great to have him around.” “He has been a vital member of this team for many years, and while it is obviously disappointing that he isn’t playing, his knowledge and simple presence among the boys are invaluable.”
Blues officials and players hadn’t anticipated seeing Cleary at training, even though he had been scheduled to join the team along with Murray and Trbojevic. He arrived thirty minutes before the
Brian To’o, a teammate of Cleary at Penrith, commented, “Nathan would obviously be devastated to not be part of these Blues camps.” He is an integral member of the Blue. It was pleasant to meet him. Due to a niggling calf injury, Blues halfback Nicho Hynes missed training, and second-rower Liam Martin did not participate in any high-impact running after a hamstring injury last weekend.
Hynes was replaced at halfback by Luke Keary, although the Sharks playmaker is anticipated to practice on Thursday. Hynes’ fitness status will need to be decided by this Friday, as Keary is scheduled to be released from camp to play for the Sydney Roosters in the event that he does not make the Blues roster.
“We obviously support the physio staff with their plan with him, and if he’s right, he’ll play,” Crichton remarked of Hynes, who spent a lot of time observing. “I believe Keary is a decent hand replacement, but if Nicho isn’t sweet, I think he will be. “Kez is an experienced player who has participated in major games and championship finals. I believe he is fully prepared to play if called upon.”
Warriors forward Mitch Barnett is the backup for Martin, who warmed up with the team initially but left to work on his hamstrings with physiotherapist Kenny Michalopoulos on the opposite field. Crichton described Martin as having “the same sort of thing going on with him.” We wish to make sure he has every opportunity to play, but we’re still so far away from the game.