Payne Haas and Brian To'o cleared to start for the NSW Blues on Wednesday night

News.com.au

5 hours ago

NSW coach Laurie Daley has confirmed the team will be 1-17 for the State of Origin decider barring any late mishaps, with injured duo Brian To'o and Payne Haas declared fit after getting through Monday night's session at Accor Stadium.
To'o had been in doubt all week after he picked up a knee injury in Penrith's win over the Bulldogs, but he looked fine on Tuesday morning as he walked to get a coffee with his teammates, with the powerful winger scoring a hat-trick in game two despite battling a hamstring strain.
Haas has also been dealing with quad and back issues all series but has been given the all clear to play in Wednesday's decider in a huge boost for the Blues.
'Brian trained all the session, and Payne did a little bit,' Daley said.
'We always knew going into the game that Payne would be on restricted duties, but he'll be ready for game time.
'Unless anything happens between now and then – which I don't expect it to – we'll be 1-17.'
While a younger forward may have been ruled out last week, Daley said Haas has earned the team's trust and may have actually enjoyed having a few sessions off given the work he gets through at the Broncos.
'There are some people that you wouldn't give that time to,' the coach said.
'But the fact that he's done it before (makes us trust him) and to be fair, it'll probably help him because he plays long minutes for a front-rower and he plays every game.
'He probably needs a bit of a freshen up so he'll be champing at the bit to get out there. He wanted to do more out there last night, but it's not about being right on a Monday night – we need him right on Wednesday.'
The irony is that the two biggest concerns have been the state's best players this series, with Haas dominating game one despite barely training, while To'o scored three tries in Perth.
'They've earned the trust with the performances they've put in, and the performances they've put in big games,' skipper Isaah Yeo said.
'Payne and 'Bizza' (To'o) have probably been the question marks, but that's been normal for them for the whole campaign.
'Payne was our man of the match in game one and Bizza was our man of the match in game two, so off the back of those performances you can trust that they've done enough.'
Daley will need both men to be at their best as he searches for his first win as coach in a series decider having lost them all in 2013, 2015 and 2017 against the greatest Queensland side ever assembled.
But the Blues legend has downplayed the past and says his players will determine whether his second stint in charge ends in success.
'I don't even worry about that. I just worry about now and what I need to do for this team,' he said.
'I don't care about me, I care about the team and I want them to do well.'
The Blues are warm favourites for the decider where Nathan Cleary has been backed to dominate, but Latrell Mitchell looms as the man who could break the game wide open with his running game.
The South Sydney superstar has passed well to To'o, but we're yet to see a trademark brutal carry that can swing momentum.
That's a scary thought for the Maroons given Mitchell prides himself on being the greatest showman when the lights are brightest.
'I think he's been great for us throughout this campaign,' Yeo said.
'I certainly imagine him doing that (having a big game) with his right arm fend. We've seen that so many times in the big moments, whether that's in grand finals or other Origins.
'He's had a really good campaign and he's one of those guys who has the ability to break the game wide open. Any time he has the ball, he has the ability to do something special that not many other players can.
'When he's out there in these big games, he gives everyone else confidence. That's a really important thing and there aren't many players who can instil confidence in a team at this level.'