NSW Blues halfback Nathan Cleary faces deadline to prove fitness

As he joined his NSW teammates for one of Brad Fittler’s “earthing” sessions, Nathan Cleary wasn’t afraid to show his strapped ankle as he targets a deadline day return to fitness for the Blues.

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Does this look like a 21-year-old about to miss the biggest game of the year?

With the temperature gauge struggling to hit 10-degrees at 8am on Tuesday in Bondi, Nathan Cleary had every right to keep his injured right ankle wrapped in cotton wool.

Instead, the NSW playmaker ripped off his shoes with his teammates, picked up a footy and began “earthing” — Blues coach Brad Fittler’s prerequisite for every morning inside NSW camp.

Soaking up the earth’s minerals in bare feet, Cleary also soaked up the media focus as the Blues convened for the first time ahead of Wednesday night’s Origin decider at ANZ Stadium.

Nathan Cleary joined his Blues teammates for the official team photo. Picture: AAP

Cleary’s sprained ankle — albeit taped with a compression bandage — is on track to make a full recovery in time for kick-off against Queensland.

With all swelling in his ankle virtually gone, Cleary’s around-the-clock physiotherapy treatment is paying-off to the point where he could run for the first time on Wednesday.

It’s a stunning turn of fortunes given the fears that the Penrith halfback would originally be ruled out for a month after he was unable to return for the second-half in Origin II in Perth.

Despite Tuesday being an official rest day for the Blues, Cleary suggested he was eager to test the ankle as soon as possible.

“I’ll probably run (today) or the next day,’’ Cleary told The Daily Telegraph.

“There’s just a few boxes to tick until next Wednesday night.

“There’s plenty of time and I just don’t want to put all my eggs into one basket and lock myself in and something not go right. I’m quietly confident I’ll be alright.’’

While the Blues went through a slow and steady run-through at Coogee Oval on Tuesday, Cleary’s involvement was minimal.

Should he test the ankle today, Cleary will then be able to commence full-training with the NSW side at their Sydney Olympic Park training base on Thursday.

Asked if had his own way of knowing that he would be good to go, Cleary joked: “I’ll give it a few side steps in the lounge room. But at the moment, I’m just trying to stay off it and look after it and get it the best I can to run.’’

Nathan Cleary passes the ball ahead of the Blues official team photo. Picture: AAP

Cleary explained how relieved he was when first learning of the diagnosis last week.

“It was a massive relief,’’ Cleary said.

“I obviously knew something was wrong with how swollen it was.

“But I went got the scans and then I got a call driving home from the doctor and he said, ’you’re a chance for Origin, it’s not syndesmosis’.

“That was really relieving. It was probably the best case scenario.

“It would be a shame not to be there, but all in all, my main hope is just for NSW to win the series and in the end that’s what my decision will come down too.’’