‘Not a boil': Jarome Luai clears air on health scare as Blues teammate races clock to be fit for Origin decider

News.com.au

4 hours ago

Blues coach Laurie Daley says strike winger Brian To'o needs to start doing 'decent' training by Saturday to prove his fitness, with Jacob Kiraz to do the majority of sessions this week to ensure he's ready to go if there's a late switch for the Origin decider.
To'o overcame a hamstring concern to score a hat-trick in game two in Perth, but he appeared to injure his left knee during Penrith's epic win over the Bulldogs last week.
That he finished the game is a good sign, but NSW won't risk him if he's not fully fit and able to train properly by the weekend.
'Bizza's (To'o) scan was a good one, but (he'll be on) restricted duties because you can't afford to take any chances,' Daley said.
'That's the reason why Jacob's 18th man. Jacob will train the majority of the sessions so he won't miss a beat.
'If we need to make that change then we will because we've got the flexibility there and it won't disrupt our preparation.
'More importantly, Bizza can try to get right, and if Jacob plays, he'll have a good 11-day prep before he makes his Origin debut.'
To'o wasn't the only injury concern heading into Blues camp on Monday, but he's the only one still in doubt with halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai both overcoming recent setbacks.
Cleary battled a groin complaint in Perth and didn't do the goalkicking that night or for the Panthers last week, but that didn't stop him from coming up with the game-winning play when he charged down a Matt Burton kick to score.
'Feeling good, it was a bloody tough game on Thursday night but pulled out of that really well,' he said.
'In terms of the groin, it's feeling better every single day. I even compare this time last week and it feels a lot better. I'm happy with that.
'It's mainly just the goalkicking (that I can't do). I haven't even tried to goalkick yet. It's one of those things that you don't want to try too early and get another setback, so I'm mainly focusing on making sure I don't have any disruptions in actually playing.
'I think it's something that we want to speak about quite early in the week so it's not something that gets chopped and changed too late.'
Cleary is looking forward to lining up alongside great mate Luai one more time after the Wests Tigers co-captain was a late scratching for their game against Manly.
Luai picked up a nasty fever and his whole chest went red, but the star playmaker stressed the injury wasn't what was first reported.
'It was just a wound, not a boil,' he explained after spending three days in hospital.
'When I saw the word boil I was like 'oh man, the boys are gonna roast me'. They're all giving it to me. I'll cop that on the chin, but I am just happy I am back feeling a lot better.
'I was probably a bit rundown from backing up after Origin, you start to catch things a bit easier. I got a bit of a staph infection. I went to hospital after the captain's run and tried to get those antibiotics into my system and be right to play the next day.
'I got there and the doctor said it was a lot worse than what we thought it was. I am feeling a lot better now, I am grateful for that. You take for granted sometimes when you're in good health, so good to be back now.'