Blues standby-man Clint Gutherson preparing to make Origin debut

Clint Gutherson was in NSW’s squad for game two but didn’t make the team. When Nathan Cleary got injured he thought game three could be his time. Will he be denied his Origin debut again?

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Clint Gutherson is preparing like he will make his Origin debut next Wednesday despite Nathan Cleary almost certain to overcome an ankle injury to play.

Gutherson has been named the Blues’ shadow player for the second consecutive match but this time around he is an outside chance to play given Cleary’s ankle injury.

While Cleary’s recovery continues to be ahead of schedule, Gutherson is ensuring he will be right to play if he is given a late call-up.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Cleary, Gutherson has not asked the Blues halfback if he would be right to play.

Gutherson will be at 100 per cent readiness. Image: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“I sent him a text last week to see how it is and he said it was going well,” Gutherson said. “It’s good news for the team.

“He has been named. I’m expecting him to play. Everyone else is. I’m just here embracing the week whatever happens, happens.

“I’ll be ready if I need to be. You have to (prepare like you are playing). If you don’t you’ll be left behind. I’ve come into camp thinking I’m going to play. If I do, I do, if I don’t I don’t.

“It’s easy for me. I love being around this sort of environment and being involved. “

Cleary still has to prove his fitness. Image: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

The versatile Eels captain would likely start off the bench with Wade Graham promoted to the halves should anything happen to Cleary. He said he filled in “a bit of everywhere” at Blues training ahead of Origin II.

“I’ll get involved and try and learn as much as possible,” Gutherson said. “If I do get called upon at any stage I’ll be ready to go on and off the field.

“It’s not hard for me to get my head around it and just be involved. Just like last camp I’ll do what I can for the boys and just enjoy the week.

“(I learnt) how to handle big games. It was a huge game. Just the way some of the older boys approached it. And how they handled the pressure. I didn’t straight away know what they were doing but whenever I get into a big game it might rub off on me a little bit.”

Tigers back-rower Ryan Matterson almost received a last minute call-up in Origin II after Tyson Frizell battled with a neck injury and was in doubt even throughout the warm-up.