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A quarter of Broncos superstars have got through a crucial training run on Friday morning and look set to be unleashed against the Knights despite injury concerns.
Adam Reynolds, who is returning from a long-term pec injury appears set to make his comeback in Newcastle alongside Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas who all participated fully in the captain’s run allaying concerns after a brutal Origin decider on Wednesday night.
However, Selwyn Cobbo did not train and looks to be the Origin player in the most severe doubt to back up for the must win game on Saturday.
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The Knights clash has been billed as a do-or-die game for both teams, with coaches Kevin Walters and Adam O’Brien sweating on the availability of their Origin players, with Newcastle stars Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai and Bradman Best also set to back up.
Maroons fullback Reece Walsh clutches at his back during the State of Origin decider. Getty
Speaking to Nova 106.9’s Ash, Luttsy & Susie O’Neill on Friday morning, Walters admitted that his best players were carrying sore bodies, but said he was confident they would not miss such a crucial game.
Asked specifically about Walsh, who didn’t appear to be moving fluently on Wednesday night, Walters admitted he was struggling.
“… everyone targets him, and that’s going to be a thing for the rest of his career! So we’ve got to work out ways, and Reece has got to work out ways of how we can protect him,” he said.
“The NRL certainly has to look at it as well. But Reece is a tough kid and his best work is still in front of him. At the moment it just not quite working for him but I’m sure that it’s not far away where he just explodes again and brings the team and club alive again.”
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He added that Carrigan was dealing with ankle injuries but “should be right” for the Newcastle game despite playing the full 80 minutes in the Origin decider.
Walters comments followed an admission from Broncos assistant coach John Cartwright that all of the club’s Origin players were “in a little bit of doubt”.
“We want them to play, we need them to play,” Cartwright told 4BC’s Wide World of Sports Radio on Thursday night.
“If it’s just general soreness then it’s all hands on deck for us … it’s not about winning six out of seven or seven out of seven (to keep finals chances alive) it’s about winning (on Saturday).
“I’ve always liked when the Origin boys back up and lead the way. It might be the thing that we need just to get everyone out of the little bit of a hole that we’re in.”
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 20 tips by all Nine’s expert tipsters!
Nine’s NRL tipping leaderboard. Nine
Brad Fittler: Raiders, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Roosters, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys
Allana Ferguson: Raiders, Rabbitohs, Knights, Roosters, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Bulldogs
Paul Gallen: Raiders, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Storm, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys
Danika Mason: Raiders, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Roosters, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys
Mat Thompson: Warriors, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Roosters, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys
Peter Psaltis: Raiders, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Storm, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys
David Middleton: Warriors, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Roosters, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys
The Mole: Warriors, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Roosters, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Bulldogs
Ben Glover: Raiders, Rabbitohs, Knights, Roosters, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Bulldogs
