The Bandit
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Origin door ajar for Barrett
By Laine Clark
June 23, 2005
A CHANGE of heart by New South Wales selector Bob McCarthy has opened the Origin door for injured pivot Trent Barrett, in worrying news for incumbent Blues five-eighth Braith Anasta.
McCarthy originally said Barrett would not be considered for Origin III when the NSW team was decided on Monday if he did not play for his NRL club St George Illawarra this weekend.
However, the Blues selector changed his tune today, saying Barrett would still be in the Origin mix even if he didn't feature in NRL action against the Wests Tigers on Sunday.
Barrett would be considered as long as he had fully recovered from the thigh strain that ruled him out of Origin II, McCarthy said.
"If he didn't play this weekend, yeah, we would run the rule over him but we would have to look at the doctor's report," McCarthy said.
"And he would have to make training the next day. If he couldn't train for a week we wouldn't be thinking much about him – we will just go on the doctor's report."
If picked, Barrett is expected to link in the halves with Andrew Johns, who returns from a neck injury for NRL club Newcastle against Penrith on Saturday night.
But neither McCarthy or NSW Rugby League general manager Geoff Carr would speculate whether Johns would skipper the Blues if incumbent captain and hooker Danny Buderus failed to overcome a toe injury, as expected.
McCarthy was more expansive on injured NSW winger Luke Rooney.
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The Penrith flyer suffered a corked thigh in game two and was expected to struggle to be fit for Origin III.
But McCarthy said other winger options had not been considered – yet.
"No one's told me about Rooney being out," he said.
"But we will consider all the medical reports before picking our side – we won't plan anything until we get in on 9.30am on Monday."
A Penrith official confirmed Rooney would play for the Panthers against Newcastle in a major boost to the winger's NSW selection chances.
** If this comes true then Anasta may be pushed to the bench or maybe not even retain his spot at all....not good **
By Laine Clark
June 23, 2005
A CHANGE of heart by New South Wales selector Bob McCarthy has opened the Origin door for injured pivot Trent Barrett, in worrying news for incumbent Blues five-eighth Braith Anasta.
McCarthy originally said Barrett would not be considered for Origin III when the NSW team was decided on Monday if he did not play for his NRL club St George Illawarra this weekend.
However, the Blues selector changed his tune today, saying Barrett would still be in the Origin mix even if he didn't feature in NRL action against the Wests Tigers on Sunday.
Barrett would be considered as long as he had fully recovered from the thigh strain that ruled him out of Origin II, McCarthy said.
"If he didn't play this weekend, yeah, we would run the rule over him but we would have to look at the doctor's report," McCarthy said.
"And he would have to make training the next day. If he couldn't train for a week we wouldn't be thinking much about him – we will just go on the doctor's report."
If picked, Barrett is expected to link in the halves with Andrew Johns, who returns from a neck injury for NRL club Newcastle against Penrith on Saturday night.
But neither McCarthy or NSW Rugby League general manager Geoff Carr would speculate whether Johns would skipper the Blues if incumbent captain and hooker Danny Buderus failed to overcome a toe injury, as expected.
McCarthy was more expansive on injured NSW winger Luke Rooney.
Advertisement:
The Penrith flyer suffered a corked thigh in game two and was expected to struggle to be fit for Origin III.
But McCarthy said other winger options had not been considered – yet.
"No one's told me about Rooney being out," he said.
"But we will consider all the medical reports before picking our side – we won't plan anything until we get in on 9.30am on Monday."
A Penrith official confirmed Rooney would play for the Panthers against Newcastle in a major boost to the winger's NSW selection chances.
** If this comes true then Anasta may be pushed to the bench or maybe not even retain his spot at all....not good **
