Billy Slater could miss final Maroons session ahead of Origin III

THE Maroons could be forced to rest fullback Billy Slater from their final training session to preserve him for the State of Origin series decider.

Billy Slater down injured at Queensland training.

THE Maroons could be forced to rest fullback Billy Slater from their final training session to preserve him for Wednesday’s State of Origin decider.

Slater is undergoing intense treatment to overcome an ankle injury in time for the blockbuster showdown against NSW at Suncorp Stadium.

Tuesday’s captain’s run is traditionally a session to finetune team plays and defence structures and it would be far from ideal for Slater to sit on the sidelines.

But Maroons medical staff are conscious he could aggravate the problem which would seriously affect his fitness on game day.

If Slater stays off his feet on Tuesday he will be in a better position to play through pain in the game, with skipper Cameron Smith saying it was not crucial for the 28-Origin veteran to train.

“I would much rather he be right to go on Wednesday night rather than push him into a captain’s run and he pulls up sore again,” Smith said.

Billy Slater goes down injured during a Queensland Maroons State of Origin training session at Sanctuary Cove on Sunday.

“We don’t particularly need him there for the captain’s run. We have done our main sessions on Friday and Sunday, that’s when we got most of our work done.

“For Bill not to take part in that captain’s run is not going to worry us at all.

“Given the way Bill has pulled up it all looks extremely positive for him to be there and for us to go out as the 17 named.”

The Maroons are so confident Slater will play they have not drafted in extra players to cover his potential absence.

Bench utility Ben Hunt trained at five-eighth at times during Sunday’s session when Cameron Munster shifted to fullback.

If Slater does not play, that is the likely change coach Kevin Walters would make, with Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough coming on to the bench.

Billy Slater taken from the field injured during a Queensland Maroons State of Origin training session on Sunday.

Billy Slater is driven away for treatment after rolling his ankle during a Queensland State of Origin team training session on Sunday.

While Johnathan Thurston will not play another game for Queensland following his representative retirement, and Cooper Cronk could follow suit, Smith said he didn’t expect Slater to give the game away this year.

“Bill’s a little bit different. I think he’s very keen to play on it’s just whether he feels his body’s up to it,” he said.

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“His body has taken a battering over his career. He’s had injuries to his knees, his ankles, his shoulders and quite serious injuries as well.

“It’s whether he feels he can get through firstly a pre-season of training and then getting through another rigorous season of football.

“Whether he feels he’s up to it, whether he can put 100 per cent into that because I know Bill has always been about playing at 100 per cent.

Billy Slater down injured at Queensland training.

“It’s not going in at 80 per cent. It’s all or nothing for Billy.

“He’s probably waiting more toward the end of the year to see how he feels, and I think he’ll make a decision from there.”

The Maroons on Monday shifted their camp from Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast to Brisbane.