The 19 reasons NSW have the edge over Maroons before Origin III
If the lopsided penalty count in Origin II gave Queensland a helping hand, the NRL draw has done the Blues a huge favour in the lead-up to game three.
No less than 10 Blues will have completed their club commitments by Friday night, compared to nine Queenslanders who will be forced to play almost 48 hours later on Sunday afternoon.
The schedule worked against Laurie Daley's side before game two, when the Easter Monday clash between the Bulldogs and Parramatta meant five players – Stephen Crichton, Max King, Mitchell Moses, Zac Lomax and 18th man Matt Burton – were unable to train until Thursday in camp.
But Daley will be relieved if Crichton, King, Burton, Penrith quintet Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Dylan Edwards, Liam Martin and Brian To'o all come through Thursday night's Dogs-Panthers blockbuster unscathed.
Jarome Luai and Hudson Young will play for the Wests Tigers and Canberra respectively on Friday, while Connor Watson and Angus Crichton will have already put their feet up because of the Sydney Roosters' bye.
The Maroons, on the other hand, will have Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Trent Loiero, Xavier Coates, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Mo Fotuaika, Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai all playing on Sunday afternoon.
The extra 48 hours will help NSW players to overcome any bumps and bruises, while Daley will be able to hold a full training session on Wednesday in Leura – something he could not do last camp.
Wrapping up their club commitments so early will mean Cleary and Luai can come into camp fresh and benefit from a full preparation, as opposed to just two sessions last time around when Luai was parachuted in late for the injured Moses.
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