Training camp images spell disaster for NSW Blues ahead of Origin

The NSW Blues have seen their training camp get off to the worst possible start as they look to win back the State of Origin shield.

Worrying signs for NSW Blues at training camp

The NSW Blues training camp has got off to a horror start with two star players watching on as the rest of the squad hit the track.

Michael Maguire had told reporters on Monday that he was expecting Blues halfback Nicho Hynes to “hit the ground running from day one” but that didn’t go according to plan.

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Roosters playmaker Luke Keary instead took Hynes’ place in a series of drills that got the Blues’ session underway on Wednesday morning.

As the camp got started, Hynes stood on the sidelines in runners before he began throwing passes to teammates.

While not an uncommon practice for star players to be managed throughout training camps, the early images will send shivers up the spine of Blues fans.

Hynes wasn’t the only star player not to take part in the early session on Wednesday with Panthers second rower Liam Martin watching on.

The Penrith gun initially took part before shifting to doing stretching drills against the goalposts.

Liam Martin going through stretches. Credit: Fox Sports

Hynes watched on as Blues training got underway. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Hynes will be given every chance to recover from a calf injury to partner Jarome Luai in the halves while Martin is coming off a hamstring issue suffered on the weekend.

It’s not just players that have had their Origin preparation hampered with Michael Maguire also coming off second best in an innocuous incident on Tuesday.

According to Nine’s Danny Weidler, Maguire cut his head open while walking from the team’s Centre of Excellence to a team photo shoot.

“He bumped into an object whilst deep in conversation with Payne Haas,” Weidler wrote on X.

“May need stitches. Bravely completed promo shoot.”

Maguire cut his head open on the way to a shoot. Picture: Rohan Kelly

The Maroons had a minor scare of their own, with Queensland hooker Harry Grant missed their first training session due to illness.

Grant, who has been picked on the bench, was nowhere to be seen at Queensland’s main training session on Tuesday.

The Maroons are confident he will make a full recovery as Queensland chase a hat-trick of series wins.

“Harry is a bit crook the little fella,” Reece Walsh said.

“We saw him this morning, I think he is just resting up.

“He might be floating around somewhere, it might be a little tactic, he’s a bit crook.

“It would be good to let him have a rest today.”

Game 1 of the 2024 State of Origin series will take place at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Wednesday, June 5.

Originally published as Training camp images spell disaster for NSW Blues ahead of Origin