Walters gives injured Maroons brigade a clean bill of health
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Maroons coach Kevin Walters has declared that his injured and ill brigade of players are all set to play against NSW on Sunday in Perth in a massive boost to Queensland's chances of wrapping up the State of Origin series.
Minutes before captain Daly Cherry-Evans insisted he was 100 per cent fit after sitting out Wednesday's training session with shoulder soreness, Walters spoke on stage at an NRL function in Perth ahead of the clash at Optus Stadium.
Dane Gagai (virus), Dylan Napa (hand), Matt Gillett (broken nose) and Kalyn Ponga (calf) have all been given a clean bill of health.
Ponga has a slight calf complaint and sat out part of training on Thursday but nothing that will keep him out of Origin II.
"He has played a lot of football this year so we pulled him out as a precaution," Walters said.
"We are being very careful with him around his training. Billy [Slater] has been in his ear this week. It is really good from a Queensland point of view to have guys like Billy, JT and Hodgo [Justin Hodges] here. It's been really positive."
Maroons v Blues - Origin II
Gagai trained on his own on Wednesday but joined the full group on Thursday after an illness laid him low earlier in the week.
"Dane trained strongly yesterday. He's fine," Walters said.
"He was in bed for a couple of days to be honest but he trained strongly with the team on Thursday. He'll be right for Sunday.
"Dane's been such a great Origin player – 11 tries in 11 games – which is something he is proud of and he wants to add to that tally on Sunday.
"Gillo got a pretty nasty whack [for the Broncos against the Eels] but Gillo being Gillo he is looking forward to Sunday."
Match: Maroons v Blues
Game 2 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Napa has said he will play with a broken wrist on Sunday but Walters said the injury was elsewhere.
"It's not actually his wrist. It is another part of his hand but he will be fine. We put him through some tough tests in the last couple of days, and he's a tough character," Walters said.
"He is looking forward to starting the game. He didn't in the first game so he's excited about that and a fit and firing Dylan is exactly what Queensland needs to get out of the blocks.
"We are firing and ready to go on Sunday I guarantee you that."
