Queensland Maroons team news: Opposed session to decide Harry Grant’s availability for State of Origin 3

Injured Queensland star Harry Grant must pass a physical test of his injured sternum to be cleared for the State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.

Harry Grant must get through an opposed session to be cleared for Origin III. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

Harry Grant is facing D-Day at Camp Maroon with the classy Queensland hooker set for a crucial hitout that could determine whether he plays in the Origin decider.

Grant’s injured sternum will be put to the test on Thursday when the Maroons take on Broncos feeder-club Wynnum Manly in an opposed session ahead of Origin III next Wednesday night.

NSW’s greatest Origin coach Phil Gould has added to the intrigue surrounding Grant, claiming the Maroons super sub won’t play in the death-or-glory decider at Suncorp Stadium.

Queensland coach Billy Slater remains confident Grant will take the field, but the match-winning No.14 must get through a searching session against the Seagulls to emphatically convince the Maroons he is not at major risk in Origin III.

In-form Canterbury rake Reed Mahoney has been drafted into Camp Maroon on standby for Grant and his addition to the extended squad is a sign Ben Hunt’s hooking partner-in-crime is racing the injury clock.

Maroons medicos are assessing Grant closely. Slater will be sweating on the Storm sensation showing promising signs against Wynnum Manly as Queensland ramp-up their preparations.

Should Grant be ruled out, Maroons nearly-man Mahoney will finally celebrate his Origin debut, three years after first being named in an extended squad by former Queensland coach Paul Green.

Harry Grant must get through an opposed session to be cleared for Origin III. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

Mahoney was outstanding last week, making a staggering 70 tackles in the Bulldogs’ win over the Warriors, and would relish the defensive ferocity of an Origin decider.

Legendary Blues coach Gould suspects Slater is playing mind games with NSW, telling Channel 9’s 100% Footy: “I don’t think Harry Grant will play. I don’t think he’ll play.”

The next 48 hours will be critical to Grant’s hopes of taking on the Blues.

It is understood the 26-year-old has pain-killing injections earlier this year to help him get through some NRL games for Melbourne.

Grant hasn’t played for the Storm since Origin II and Melbourne and Queensland are hoping a two-week rest can avoid the prospect of the Maroons schemer playing needled in the Suncorp decider.

Grant has won two deciders at Suncorp, including his fairytale Origin debut in 2020 when he scored a dummy-half solo try to seal Queensland’s epic 20-14 series win in Game Three.

Grant’s form in the opening two Origin games of this series has been below par and is no doubt linked to the sternum problems plaguing him.

If he is ultimately given the green light, Australia’s World Cup-winning hooker is likely to wear a sternum guard to help get him through 80 minutes of a torrid Origin decider.

Historically, Origin coaches don’t like waiting until the weekend to make calls on injured players. The presence of Mahoney in Camp Maroon would give Queensland almost a full week to prepare should Grant struggle against the Seagulls.

During his three-series tenure, Slater has been reluctant to choose injured players. He dropped Selwyn Cobbo last year for Game Two despite the Maroons ace scoring two tries in Queensland’s 26-18 win in the series opener in Adelaide.

Slater believes Grant can win the race, but has Mahoney waiting in the wings for what would be one of the most daunting debuts in Origin’s 44-year history.

“Harry is pretty good,” the Maroons coach said.

“He hasn’t played the last couple of weeks for the Storm, he is in a pretty good place.

“He (Grant) came into camp (on Monday) in pretty good health so there’s no real concern there for us and we’ll be going in as planned.

“We feel Reed really earnt this opportunity, where the Bulldogs are sitting isn’t any fluke.

“They are doing a lot right and Reed is a big part of that. He made 69 tackles on the weekend and played nearly 90 minutes (last week), so he is a wonderful player.”