Today’s the day
NSW VB Blues coach Laurie Daley faces the media this afternoon – and, if there are to be any changes to the Origin III line-up, expect him to reveal them then. At this stage James Tedesco and Tyson Frizell appear to have overcome their concerns, with captain Boyd Cordner the major worry. Cordner was not involved heavily in yesterday’s training session, instead doing his own training to the side using resistance bands.
VB Blues popularity soars
With more social-media followers than ever before it’s clear the popularity of our Origin side is soaring – and the fans’ actions at training back that up too. The closed training sessions are not open to the public, but that hasn’t stopped spectators climbing rafters and scaling fences to get a view at their heroes. It’s a scene more common at an Indian cricket match than in Rugby League!
Sixteens gather
Brad Fittler’s NSW under-16s side has come together in Narrabeen – with plenty of famous faces overseeing the development of our young stars. True Blue Danny Buderus is another former Origin great who is involved, and he can’t wait to see our next batch of superstars develop in this camp and in the years ahead.
Graham geed
No one is more excited about the third and deciding Origin than Wade Graham. The Cronulla back-rower is raring to go, as he revealed at his media call yesterday morning. "It's the moment as a kid growing up and watching Origin that you dream of," Graham says. "We're all very excited. We know if we play well, and play our best footy, we'll give ourselves the best chance to get a good result. "It's arguably one of the biggest State of Origins ever... the excitement is really starting to build."
Media watch
Today James Maloney faces the media at 8:45am, before Daley’s injury update at 1pm. Queensland return to training after a day of yesterday, with a media session of their own after lunch. Catch the fallout from all of these press conferences on www.NSWRL.com.au.
Did you know?
Across the 2017 Origin series, Blues hooker Nathan Peats has run 16,350.8m (8227.3m in Origin I and 8123.5m in Origin II) – the furthest of any player in the series so far, ahead of Cooper Cronk, James Maloney, Cameron Smith and Boyd Cordner. Click here more fascinating stats on the 2017 Origin series.
