As the NSW Blues finalize preparations for Wednesday’s State of Origin II in Melbourne, the biggest question hanging over the camp all week has centered on five-eighth Mitchell Moses’ fitness – and a pivotal Saturday training session in Gosford has delivered a promising update just hours before the squad’s departure for the game.
The Eels star’s participation in the full group session has put him firmly on track to reclaim his starting spot for the series-deciding match, marking a positive turnaround after a hamstring injury derailed his Origin I plans. Moses first tore his left hamstring during extra training just 48 hours before the opening game in Sydney, forcing officials to rule him out a day out from kickoff and prompt a last-minute call-up for Canberra Raiders standout Ethan Strange.
Strange turned in a man-of-the-match caliber debut, partnering with halfback Nathan Cleary to fuel a stunning second-half comeback win for the Blues, and remains the ready-made replacement should Moses suffer a late setback. After training separately from the main squad on Thursday – a development that stoked widespread speculation about his game-day chances – Moses moved without visible limitation during Saturday’s session, quelling many of the lingering concerns about his condition. Blues coach Laurie Daley had flagged earlier in the week that getting through the full Saturday session was a non-negotiable milestone for Moses to be named in the side, and the playmaker has now cleared that key hurdle.
Blues players have remained uniformly confident that Moses will be fit to take the field, even as he completes a modified, restricted training program this week. Hooker Reece Robson told reporters ahead of Saturday’s session that the squad has built-in contingencies for both scenarios, but that Moses himself is certain he will be ready. “Whatever happens, we’ve got plans in place for either outcome,” Robson said. “Mitch is confident he’ll be right, so we’re giving him every opportunity to get up to speed before kickoff. Even if he doesn’t get a full week of training in, most of us have played hundreds of reps alongside him at the club and representative level. When Ethan came in for Origin I with barely 24 hours notice, he stepped in and performed brilliantly, so we know we can adapt no matter what.”
Prop Mitch Barnett echoed that confidence, saying he has no doubts Moses will take the field on Wednesday. “He’s straight up about how he’s feeling, and he’s 100% confident he’ll play,” Barnett said. “He’s out there running with us today, and I don’t have a single shadow of a doubt he’ll be good to go.”
Off the field, the Blues have thrown their support behind Origin II referee Ashley Klein after reports emerged this week that the top NRL official previously battled a severe gambling addiction that saw him lose more than $400,000 on horse and greyhound racing. Klein has publicly stated that his past gambling never involved rugby league and never impacted his work as an on-field official, and Blues players say the former struggle is a personal matter that should not affect his appointment to Wednesday’s game.
Barnett said he supports Klein and hopes he continues to receive any support he needs. “That’s a personal issue for him, and as someone who cares about other people, I hope he’s doing well and has all the help he needs,” Barnett said. “It doesn’t have any bearing on this game for me.” Robson echoed that sentiment, praising Klein’s long record of strong performance at the sport’s highest level. “He’s a great referee who has delivered on the biggest stage for years, that’s why he keeps getting these big appointments,” Robson said. “The other stuff is a personal issue he’s worked through, and I’m sure he has all the support he needs around him.”