Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Mitchell Moses will have to pass a secret fitness test on his injured hamstring on Monday before being selected by the Blues for the second State of Origin clash.
Moses has spent the week rehabilitating his left hamstring injury, which he suffered 48 hours before Origin I, and has also kept him out of club duty for Parramatta against the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium.
It was widely expected Moses would be selected in the Blues squad, and he would need to be running at full pace by Thursday, when NSW hold their first serious training session in camp.
But Moses’ fitness test on the Kings Birthday holiday will mean Parramatta make the final call on their star player’s availability. The move also removes any uncertainty for the Blues around the No. 6’s fitness in the early days of camp.
Should Moses be ruled out by the Eels, Canberra’s Ethan Strange is expected to be named at starting five-eighth, where he played in game one after Moses broke down 48 hours before kick-off. Dolphins’ star Isaiya Katoa would be brought on to the extended bench as the back-up playmaker.
Katoa was included by Daley in the Blues’ wider squad ahead of Origin III last year.
Parramatta coach Jason Ryles said on Sunday if Moses pulls up fine from the final fitness run, he would be more than ready to go for the second game in Melbourne on June 17.
“Should he be selected he’ll be fine,” Ryles said. “[Moses] will build up his speeds of running and volume, and he’s in the middle of that at the moment. He’s looking pretty good right at the minute.
“Provided there are no incidents, he’ll be fine. It will be a pretty quick turnaround [until the team is named] – all you need to know is if he gets selected he’ll be right to play.”
Moses was not named for Monday’s clash against Canterbury, with Ryles admitting he could have pushed the halfback, but it was not worth it.
Ryles also said he had no issues with Moses being handed over to NSW’s care, despite the 31-year-old injuring his calf during Origin camp before game two last year.
“We’re very comfortable with him playing Origin, he deserves it, and I think every time he goes and plays, he does really well, NSW does well,” Ryles said.
“It’s part of having good players at your footy club. If they’re playing Origin, you’re a better chance of winning each weekend.
“For me, having experienced it myself, it’s really important they get the opportunity to do it. If Mitch gets selected, it’s important [for Parramatta] he plays.”
The NSW squad will enter camp at Sydney Olympic Park on Monday afternoon, with selectors keeping an eye on centre Stephen Crichton; firstly if the centre plays, and if he does, how much grief his AC joint is causing him.
Should Crichton not be fit, Penrith’s Casey McLean will slot into the starting side, with the Blues expected to then look at Matt Burton, Dolphins’ Jack Bostock, South Sydney’s Campbell Graham or Newcastle speedster Fletcher Sharpe for an extended bench spot.
Wests Tigers hooker Api Koroisau is also in the box seat to become the second hooker after Cronulla’s Blayke Brailey broke his arm.
Meanwhile, the injury-hot Eels will debut Teancum Brown against the Dogs, with the former Penrith prop battling injuries and bad luck in recent seasons. The club held a jersey presentation for Brown, who becomes Eels player 872.
