http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl ... 6408350839
Origin doubt Billy Slater says he is ready to go
A "POSITIVE" Billy Slater has given Queensland coach Mal Meninga and an entire state more than a glimmer of hope that he will be fit to play in tomorrow week's Origin decider against NSW at Suncorp Stadium.
Slater will be named today in what is expected to be a 20-man squad, which also will include Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen as insurance on a couple of fronts, and Broncos forward Ben Te'o as a new interchange option.
Lock Ashley Harrison was ruled out yesterday with a fractured toe and his starting place is set to fall to Broncos workhorse Corey Parker.
If Slater succumbs to his posterior cruciate injury, Meninga is set to move Greg Inglis from centre to fullback with Storm star Dane Nielsen to return to Origin duty in the centres.Doubts also surround Queensland centre Justin Hodges (ribs) and second-rower Sam Thaiday (shoulder), while prop Matt Scott will not the join the team until Thursday at the earliest, with his mother Diane's funeral to take place at Ilfracombe tomorrow.
Slater tested his suspect knee early yesterday under the supervision of Storm physio Kieran Morgan.
Meninga spoke to Slater soon after and liked what he heard.
Asked if Slater was keen to play, Meninga replied: "Absolutely. He's positive. So we'll just make sure we do the right thing by the Melbourne club as well, and we'll monitor him through the week."
Queensland go into camp on the Sunshine Coast today, but Slater is likely to remain in Melbourne under the supervision of the Storm medical staff, with a final call to be made on Friday.
Meninga said he had lots of options if Slater was ruled out.
"It just adds to the mire of trying to come up with the right decision," he said. "Matty Bowen has been there before, and (Bulldogs fullback) Ben Barba has been in camp as 19th man.
"Obviously Greg Inglis is playing fullback for Souths and going great. We just have to make the right decision for the benefit of the team. There's a few things we need to sift through."
It shapes as the most confusing Origin preparation for some time, and it's fair to say Meninga and his support staff do not know what team will take the field.
Former Queensland captain Darren Lockyer said there was no risk in selecting Inglis.
"But it's about putting someone in the centres who will do as good a job as Greg," he said.
"Nielsen is a player who is very solid in defence and that's important at this level.
"There are a few guys with injuries and they will do what is best for the team. If they think they are the weak link and they can't do the job, they won't be playing."
Bowen and Te'o's selections opens up the prospect of a new-look bench, with Matt Gillett and Dave Taylor most at risk of dropping out of the 17.
If Hodges' ribs played up, Inglis would remain in the centres, with Bowen to start at fullback.
Te'o left Broncos HQ 45 minutes before training yesterday and could not stop grinning when asked if he had been picked for Queensland.
Likely Queensland squad: Billy Slater; Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Brent Tate; Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk; Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (c), Petero Civoniceva, Nate Myles, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker; Matt Gillett, Dave Taylor, Ben Hannant, David Shillington, Dane Nielsen, Ben Te'o, Matt Bowen.