Kiraz called in as Blues star sidelined from training
NSW have called Jacob Kiraz into camp as cover for Brian To'o, with the Penrith winger battling hamstring soreness seven days out from State of Origin II.
Blues officials insisted on Wednesday that Kiraz's call up was only precautionary, with NSW medical staff keen to keep To'o off his feet on Thursday.
To'o is believed to have pulled up sore from Penrith's win over Wests Tigers on Sunday, and has already battled two hamstring injuries earlier this year.
NSW are confident the Samoan winger will be fine to train on Saturday, before the team flies to Perth on Sunday and attempts to wrap up the series next Wednesday.
The Blues have an opposed session against The Entrance's team from Newcastle's rugby league competition on Thursday, and want a natural winger to feature in the game.
Kiraz has not previously featured in a NSW squad, but the Canterbury flyer was favoured to win a spot on the wing for game one before a calf injury ruled him out.
NSW do have other outside backs in camp with Brisbane centre Kotoni Staggs and Penrith winger Tom Jenkins brought in as extra training bodies earlier in the week.
Matt Burton is also in the team as 18th man having previously played as a centre, but Kiraz is clearly the top option if To'o has further setbacks.
To'o's fitness will be key to the Blues' hopes of winning in Perth, given he has been the best winger in the NRL for the past five years and a leader for early-set yardage.
NSW have already suffered one blow ahead of Origin II, with Warriors prop Mitchell Barnett ruled out a fortnight ago when he suffered a season-ending ACL rupture.
NSW have called Jacob Kiraz into camp as cover for Brian To'o, with the Penrith winger battling hamstring soreness seven days out from State of Origin II.
Blues officials insisted on Wednesday that Kiraz's call up was only precautionary, with NSW medical staff keen to keep To'o off his feet on Thursday.
To'o is believed to have pulled up sore from Penrith's win over Wests Tigers on Sunday, and has already battled two hamstring injuries earlier this year.
NSW are confident the Samoan winger will be fine to train on Saturday, before the team flies to Perth on Sunday and attempts to wrap up the series next Wednesday.
The Blues have an opposed session against The Entrance's team from Newcastle's rugby league competition on Thursday, and want a natural winger to feature in the game.
Kiraz has not previously featured in a NSW squad, but the Canterbury flyer was favoured to win a spot on the wing for game one before a calf injury ruled him out.
NSW do have other outside backs in camp with Brisbane centre Kotoni Staggs and Penrith winger Tom Jenkins brought in as extra training bodies earlier in the week.
Matt Burton is also in the team as 18th man having previously played as a centre, but Kiraz is clearly the top option if To'o has further setbacks.
To'o's fitness will be key to the Blues' hopes of winning in Perth, given he has been the best winger in the NRL for the past five years and a leader for early-set yardage.
NSW have already suffered one blow ahead of Origin II, with Warriors prop Mitchell Barnett ruled out a fortnight ago when he suffered a season-ending ACL rupture.
NSW have called Jacob Kiraz into camp as cover for Brian To'o, with the Penrith winger battling hamstring soreness seven days out from State of Origin II.
Blues officials insisted on Wednesday that Kiraz's call up was only precautionary, with NSW medical staff keen to keep To'o off his feet on Thursday.
To'o is believed to have pulled up sore from Penrith's win over Wests Tigers on Sunday, and has already battled two hamstring injuries earlier this year.
NSW are confident the Samoan winger will be fine to train on Saturday, before the team flies to Perth on Sunday and attempts to wrap up the series next Wednesday.
The Blues have an opposed session against The Entrance's team from Newcastle's rugby league competition on Thursday, and want a natural winger to feature in the game.
Kiraz has not previously featured in a NSW squad, but the Canterbury flyer was favoured to win a spot on the wing for game one before a calf injury ruled him out.
NSW do have other outside backs in camp with Brisbane centre Kotoni Staggs and Penrith winger Tom Jenkins brought in as extra training bodies earlier in the week.
Matt Burton is also in the team as 18th man having previously played as a centre, but Kiraz is clearly the top option if To'o has further setbacks.
To'o's fitness will be key to the Blues' hopes of winning in Perth, given he has been the best winger in the NRL for the past five years and a leader for early-set yardage.
NSW have already suffered one blow ahead of Origin II, with Warriors prop Mitchell Barnett ruled out a fortnight ago when he suffered a season-ending ACL rupture.
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The Advertiser
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History has repeated itself with NSW forced to call upon a player they had initially dumped as the Blues hunt a series victory in Perth. Jarome Luai answered coach Laurie Daley's SOS call on Thursday after Moses was rubbed out of game 2 because of a calf strain suffered in camp. The Wests Tigers co-captain, who had been overlooked for Moses in the game one win, was contacted by Daley and team performance manager Frank Ponissi. Five-eighth for last year's series win, Luai heeded the call and will reunite with former Penrith teammate Nathan Cleary in the halves for his 11th Origin cap. "I've done the work, I've been here before. I know what it takes," Luai said on arrival at the team hotel in Leura on Thursday night. "We've got a good squad so I just need to do my job and give the other boys confidence as well." It marks the second time in as many series NSW have been forced to lean on a key player they initially rejected, having called fullback James Tedesco in at similarly late notice for last year's series opener. Tedesco was dropped from the team once Dylan Edwards recovered from injury for Origin II last year. But Luai said he was not yet considering his selection prospects should Moses be fit in time for Origin III. "I'm not worried about what's next. I'm worried about the present moment," he said. "I'm really excited and I'm grateful for the opportunity. I know there were a few options they could've went with but I'll make sure I repay that faith." The NRL has already granted the Blues an exemption to bring Luai into the team from outside the 20-man squad Daley had named on Tuesday. Daley defended the Blues' call to pick Luai ahead of Canterbury five-eighth Matt Burton, who was already in camp as replacement player. The coach said the chance to reignite Luai and Cleary's combination, which won four premierships at the Panthers, was too good to refuse. "Back playing together, there'd be an energy and a synergy there," Daley said. "(Luai) played there last year, has got a good combination with Nathan and he's that left-side player. "He'll do a fine job." Burton's ability to cover the outside backs and halves has made him a favoured choice for NSW's replacement role, which he is filling for the fifth time in eight Origin games. "(Burton) would be disappointed, you'd want him to be disappointed, but he gives us a bit more versatility in that 18th-man role," Daley said. "He can play a few more positions. I just think Jarome and Nathan's combination, they've had so much success." Queensland are wary of the dangers posed by the Cleary-Luai combination, first forged a decade ago in Penrith's junior system. "They've played all their footy together at the Panthers. When it comes to Origin football they'll be a dangerous threat," said winger Xavier Coates. Daley was impressed by Luai's attitude after he was overlooked for game one and felt he would respond to the pressures of a last-minute call-up with similar positivity. "Luai handled it (the initial rejection) with such class and he said if I needed him, he'd be ready to go," Daley said. "So when I rang him, he said, 'Sweet, I'm ready to go'. That filled me with confidence. "I don't think anything fazes Jarome. He's always up for a challenge and the bigger the challenge, the better he goes." History has repeated itself with NSW forced to call upon a player they had initially dumped as the Blues hunt a series victory in Perth. Jarome Luai answered coach Laurie Daley's SOS call on Thursday after Moses was rubbed out of game 2 because of a calf strain suffered in camp. The Wests Tigers co-captain, who had been overlooked for Moses in the game one win, was contacted by Daley and team performance manager Frank Ponissi. Five-eighth for last year's series win, Luai heeded the call and will reunite with former Penrith teammate Nathan Cleary in the halves for his 11th Origin cap. "I've done the work, I've been here before. I know what it takes," Luai said on arrival at the team hotel in Leura on Thursday night. "We've got a good squad so I just need to do my job and give the other boys confidence as well." It marks the second time in as many series NSW have been forced to lean on a key player they initially rejected, having called fullback James Tedesco in at similarly late notice for last year's series opener. Tedesco was dropped from the team once Dylan Edwards recovered from injury for Origin II last year. But Luai said he was not yet considering his selection prospects should Moses be fit in time for Origin III. "I'm not worried about what's next. I'm worried about the present moment," he said. "I'm really excited and I'm grateful for the opportunity. I know there were a few options they could've went with but I'll make sure I repay that faith." The NRL has already granted the Blues an exemption to bring Luai into the team from outside the 20-man squad Daley had named on Tuesday. Daley defended the Blues' call to pick Luai ahead of Canterbury five-eighth Matt Burton, who was already in camp as replacement player. The coach said the chance to reignite Luai and Cleary's combination, which won four premierships at the Panthers, was too good to refuse. "Back playing together, there'd be an energy and a synergy there," Daley said. "(Luai) played there last year, has got a good combination with Nathan and he's that left-side player. "He'll do a fine job." Burton's ability to cover the outside backs and halves has made him a favoured choice for NSW's replacement role, which he is filling for the fifth time in eight Origin games. "(Burton) would be disappointed, you'd want him to be disappointed, but he gives us a bit more versatility in that 18th-man role," Daley said. "He can play a few more positions. I just think Jarome and Nathan's combination, they've had so much success." Queensland are wary of the dangers posed by the Cleary-Luai combination, first forged a decade ago in Penrith's junior system. "They've played all their footy together at the Panthers. When it comes to Origin football they'll be a dangerous threat," said winger Xavier Coates. Daley was impressed by Luai's attitude after he was overlooked for game one and felt he would respond to the pressures of a last-minute call-up with similar positivity. "Luai handled it (the initial rejection) with such class and he said if I needed him, he'd be ready to go," Daley said. "So when I rang him, he said, 'Sweet, I'm ready to go'. That filled me with confidence. "I don't think anything fazes Jarome. He's always up for a challenge and the bigger the challenge, the better he goes." History has repeated itself with NSW forced to call upon a player they had initially dumped as the Blues hunt a series victory in Perth. Jarome Luai answered coach Laurie Daley's SOS call on Thursday after Moses was rubbed out of game 2 because of a calf strain suffered in camp. The Wests Tigers co-captain, who had been overlooked for Moses in the game one win, was contacted by Daley and team performance manager Frank Ponissi. Five-eighth for last year's series win, Luai heeded the call and will reunite with former Penrith teammate Nathan Cleary in the halves for his 11th Origin cap. "I've done the work, I've been here before. I know what it takes," Luai said on arrival at the team hotel in Leura on Thursday night. "We've got a good squad so I just need to do my job and give the other boys confidence as well." It marks the second time in as many series NSW have been forced to lean on a key player they initially rejected, having called fullback James Tedesco in at similarly late notice for last year's series opener. Tedesco was dropped from the team once Dylan Edwards recovered from injury for Origin II last year. But Luai said he was not yet considering his selection prospects should Moses be fit in time for Origin III. "I'm not worried about what's next. I'm worried about the present moment," he said. "I'm really excited and I'm grateful for the opportunity. I know there were a few options they could've went with but I'll make sure I repay that faith." The NRL has already granted the Blues an exemption to bring Luai into the team from outside the 20-man squad Daley had named on Tuesday. Daley defended the Blues' call to pick Luai ahead of Canterbury five-eighth Matt Burton, who was already in camp as replacement player. The coach said the chance to reignite Luai and Cleary's combination, which won four premierships at the Panthers, was too good to refuse. "Back playing together, there'd be an energy and a synergy there," Daley said. "(Luai) played there last year, has got a good combination with Nathan and he's that left-side player. "He'll do a fine job." Burton's ability to cover the outside backs and halves has made him a favoured choice for NSW's replacement role, which he is filling for the fifth time in eight Origin games. "(Burton) would be disappointed, you'd want him to be disappointed, but he gives us a bit more versatility in that 18th-man role," Daley said. "He can play a few more positions. I just think Jarome and Nathan's combination, they've had so much success." Queensland are wary of the dangers posed by the Cleary-Luai combination, first forged a decade ago in Penrith's junior system. "They've played all their footy together at the Panthers. When it comes to Origin football they'll be a dangerous threat," said winger Xavier Coates. Daley was impressed by Luai's attitude after he was overlooked for game one and felt he would respond to the pressures of a last-minute call-up with similar positivity. "Luai handled it (the initial rejection) with such class and he said if I needed him, he'd be ready to go," Daley said. "So when I rang him, he said, 'Sweet, I'm ready to go'. That filled me with confidence. "I don't think anything fazes Jarome. He's always up for a challenge and the bigger the challenge, the better he goes."
