Daly Cherry-Evans on the sidelines for first Maroons training run

Corey Norman ran the show at Maroons training on Wednesday in Perth, as Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans watched from the sidelines with his dodgy ankle in cotton wool.

Daly Cherry-Evans was placed in cotton wool for Queensland’s first training run at Optus Stadium last night but the Maroons insist their star skipper is in no doubt for Origin II.

It is understood Cherry-Evans will ramp-up his preparations by training today, with the halfback’s decision to rest his recently-operated ankle opening the door for development player Corey Norman to run the show last night.

Daly Cherry-Evans watches on during training in Perth. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

Maroons medicos are taking every precaution with Cherry-Evans, who produced a remarkable recovery to play Origin I after a record five-and-a-half week layoff following tightrope surgery.

While Cherry-Evans was a passenger, the Maroons received a boost with injured prop Dylan Napa and sick winger Dane Gagai completing training at the $1.6 billion state-of-the-art venue.

Gagai has been quarantined from his Queensland teammates for the past three days as he battles a virus, but the Origin I match-winner took a step forward by running briefly at training.

Dane Gagai got through training despite battling illness. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

Napa ran with his right-hand strapped up and, despite Maroons doctors adopting a conservative mindset, is adamant he will play with the broken wrist he suffered against the Roosters last Sunday.

Should Napa be an unlikely eleventh-hour scratching, Storm prop Christian Welch, named 18th man, will be promoted to make his State of Origin debut.

There has been criticism of Optus Stadium’s playing surface with AFL clubs West Coast and Fremantle expressing concerns about the Perth pitch in the wake of a succession of lower-leg injuries to their players.

Dylan Napa with his taped up fingers. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

Queensland utility Moses Mbye is one of the few NRL top-liners to have actually played at Optus, which hosted the round-one clash between Melbourne and his former club the Bulldogs last year.

Mbye scoffed at suggestions the surface could be a hazard as Perth locals brace for torrential rain on Saturday and Sunday, which would deliver a wet track for Origin’s debut in Western Australia.

“We were fortunate enough to play here in round one last year,” Mbye said.

“It is good (as a surface). It is a state-of-the-art facility. All the fields are pretty good these days so there’s no issue for me.”

Moses Mbye in action during training. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images

With concerns about Napa’s busted hand and how long he might last in Origin II, Mbye is ready to be Queensland’s Mr Fixit in the event of an injury crisis.

Mbye played just seven minutes in his Origin debut a fortnight ago, making 10 tackles in Queensland’s 18-14 win. Mbye has played five positions during his 114-game NRL career and is relishing the prospect of being the Maroons’ long-term super-sub.

“That is what the utility role is about,” Mbye said.

“You never know when you are going to get on in this game.

“It is an unpredictable game with head knocks, HIAs (Head Injury Assessments) and injuries, so you never know.

Can you name every player to represent the Maroons at State of Origin?

“It is just about being prepared and ticking as many boxes as you can during the week to cover as many positions as you can and taking all that information in.

“Once you get the call to get up and get your (interchange) card you’ve got to be ready to go.”

Mbye is confident Napa will withstand a Blues barrage and said his injury is no distraction.

“No, not at all to be honest,” he said. “Dylan has a small break in his wrist. Medical staff have assessed him and he has told us he is going to do the job. We are confident.”