Billy Slater trains as Dylan Napa sits out for Queensland
QUEENSLAND have been given a Game Two boost by the presence of fullback Billy Slater at training, although doubts remain over Dylan Napa’s availability for Sunday’s must-win clash.
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MAROONS officials are privately confident Dylan Napa will be ready to go in Sunday’s must-win clash against NSW, despite the fiery prop sitting out Monday’s training session.
The Queensland team arrived on the Gold Coast on Monday morning and took part in a light run in the afternoon to kick off their preparations for Origin II.
While the side received a boost by the presence of Billy Slater (hamstring), there was concern for Napa who watched the session from the sideline as he continues to monitor an ankle injury.
The fiery prop had a moon boot on his left foot when his teammates began training and then underwent treatment, including a massage, while the session continued.
Napa will be given until Wednesday to prove his fitness, however it is understood the Maroons are quietly confident he will be right to go for Game Two.
While coach Kevin Walters named an 18-man squad that included Melbourne forward Tim Glasby as cover, it’s understood he has been in constant contact with Napa since the Roosters forward aggravated the ankle problem on Friday night.
Those conversations have given coaching staff confidence Napa will recover in time.
While Queensland selector Gene Miles would not comment on Napa’s chance, he said the prop was “desperate” to play.
“Dylan and Kevin have been speaking on the phone and Dylan says he wants every opportunity to play,” he said.
“He’ll be given that because he’s an important part of the team. We need his aggression and he’s desperate to play … he would throw a little bit of fear in the NSW pack as well.
“We are hopeful he can pass the fitness test by Wednesday and be part of the team.”
Walters was more conservative when talking about Napa’s chances, saying he was uncertain of his starting prop’s condition.
“We haven’t seen him run or anything yet so I really don’t know (how he’ll be),” Walters said.
“That’s why we have 18 players in and we’ll give Dylan every chance to prove his fitness … we’re going to sort that out early in the week.
“We’ll make a decision one way or the other earlier in the week so we can get on with our training. We need 17 fit guys to take on what is a very strong NSW outfit again, regardless of who they select.”
is one option to move into the front row if Napa is unable to recover in time, but Miles also indicated Josh Papalii was an option, with Glasby on the bench.
The Raiders enforcer was one of Queensland’s best from their pack in Game One and could be rewarded with a starting position if need be.
“We have a couple of different options,” Miles said.
“Josh Papalii could fill the role there … Papalii is playing in the middle for Canberra and fits the bill aggression wise.
“It’s a bit of a juggling act there if Dylan doesn’t play. They get gassed pretty easily in the middle when it’s full pelt.”
Selectors maintain, however, that Billy Slater will manage his recovery from a hamstring injury and be able to play 80 minutes on Sunday.
The super-fit Slater, who turned 35 on Monday, will have not played for five weeks if he and team medicos manage to navigate a training week with a problem which has been the scourge of many older footballers.
Slater said at the outset of Queensland’s Game One camp that he would be able to play, but had to withdraw when the injury worsened in a training setback later in the week.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters said Slater’s return would “help everyone’’ in the Queensland side, but insists he wants this campaign to have fewer injury queries than the first preparation.
“He’s been training with the Storm and the information coming out of Melbourne from their medical staff and Billy (is that) he’ll be right to go,’’ Walters said.
“Without putting too much on Bill, I think he’s going to help everyone, including our halves, our hooker, our forward pack and defensively we have to get better.’’
Should Slater have a setback in training, rookie Kalyn Ponga would start at fullback, with another back summoned for the bench, probably Anthony Milford.
Queensland teams present the Dick Turner Medal to 20-game players and the FOGS Statesman award for those who play 30 or more.
Slater, who announced last month that he will retire from representative football after the Origin series, faces his 30th game on Sunday. It would see him join Cameron Smith (42), Johnathan Thurston (37), Darren Lockyer (36), Allan Langer (34), Peter Civoniceva (33), Mal Meninga (32), Nate Myles (32), Wally Lewis (31) and Greg Inglis (31).
“Billy really wants to go out as a 30-game player, which is a huge milestone,’’ Queensland chairman of selectors Gene Miles said.
“He could have put it over us in Game One and tried to take the field. He’s given himself a couple more weeks.
“We are more confident that (Slater will play) than we were for Game One. Billy has had a number of discussions with Kev.
“It’s a new injury to Billy. He doesn’t know how to treat a hamstring or finally test it.
“Billy is the last man standing (from the Smith-Thurston generation). I’m sure he wants to prove to everyone that age is no barrier to him.
“His talk at the back will be very beneficial to our team.’’
Aside from skipper Inglis and Slater, the next most experienced player in the Maroons is forward Josh Papalii with nine appearances.