NSW Blues rocked as Stephen Crichton fails to finish training

NSW’s camp has been rocked by a worrying sight at State of Origin training as the Blues scramble to get two key players fit.

All eyes were on injured front-rower Payne Haas at NSW training on Monday but it was star centre Stephen Crichton who failed to finish the session.

Crichton has sent an injury scare through Blues camp as the Bulldogs skipper limped off the training park with an ice pack on his left leg.

The 24-year-old decided to play in Canterbury’s final game before going into camp despite carrying a groin injury on the same leg that appeared injured on Monday.

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Rabbitohs Campbell Graham slotted in as Crichton’s replacement for the remainder of the opposed session against Queensland Cup side Wynnum Manly.

Stephen Crichton hobbles off injured. Credit: X/@mrchrisnico

Stephen Crichton and teammates during the NSW Blues State of Origin Squad training session at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

It came after NSW coach Laurie Daley has revealed Monday is the “big day” for injured Haas as he fights the clock to be fit for Wednesday night.

Daley said he’ll give Haas until kick-off to overcome a quad injury but admitted if the Broncos superstar can’t take part in any of Monday’s training then he’ll be scratched.

Haas was hurt in Brisbane’s loss to the Dragons eight days ago and Daley revealed it was a “seven to 10 days” injury.

“This is his big moment, this is his big day. We’re training at 10:30am this morning,” Daley told Big Sports Breakfast Radio on Monday.

“I haven’t consumed myself too much in it, I’ve just let the medical staff do their job. I haven’t wanted to be a pain with Payne and ask him every day how he’s going because I don’t think that’s good for anyone.

“So I’ve just left him and touched base with the physios, we’ll see where he is today and I reckon we’ll have a better idea of what we can expect but look if he’s not right, I’ve got every faith in Stefano coming in and doing a wonderful job for us.

Payne Haas will be given until kick-off to prove his fitness. Picture: Liam Kidston

Stephen Crichton at NSW training last week. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I’ll give him right up until kick-off. They tell me it’s not the main quad muscle, it’s away from the main quad muscle, so it’s not a serious injury and it’s one that heals in seven to 10 days so it’s right on that boundary.

“He’s tracking really well, if it was a major tear or in the main quad muscle then he would have been ruled out but the fact that it’s been an 11-day campaign and we’re right on the cusp, it’s one of those things we’ve just got to wait and see.

“He’s progressed really well and obviously he has to do a part of the session today, if he can’t do anything we’ll know straight away.”

Fox Sports cameras captured Haas taking part in Blues training in Brisbane on Monday but it’s unclear to what extent.

Originally published as NSW Blues rocked as Stephen Crichton fails to finish training