With his injured rib cartilage continuing to improve, Shark skipper Paul Gallen has predictably been named as NSW captain for the State of Origin decider on July 8.
Gallen was injured in the Blues victory in game two and has been forced to miss the last two Sharks matches, however for such a big occasion and taking into account his value to the NSW team coach Laurie Daley had no hesitation in selecting him to lead his team for Game 3 of the series.
The NSW team took on an identical look to the one which levelled the series in Melbourne, with the same 17-man squad selected, however a number of players will go into camp under injury clouds.
While Gallen and his medical advisors are confident he will be 100 per cent by Wednesday week, the same can’t be said of a handful of his teammates, with Robbie Farah and Beau Scott injured while playing the NRL round last weekend.
Farah appears to be in the most doubt, with all eyes now turning to Michael Ennis and his judiciary hearing tomorrow night.
Should Ennis be cleared of the charge and Farah be ruled out with his hand injury, the experienced Sharks hooker stands every chance of being called in as his replacement.
The Queenslanders named their team yesterday, with Daley Cherry-Evans left out of the squad and Cowboy Michael Morgan to take up the bench utility spot.
The NSW Team for State of Origin game 3 is as follows;
1. Josh Dugan
2. Will Hopoate
3. Michael Jennings
4. Josh Morris
5. Brett Morris
6. Mitchell Pearce
7. Trent Hodkinson
8. Aaron Woods
9. Robbie Farah
10. James Tamou
11. Beau Scott
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Paul Gallen – captain
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14. Trent Merrin
15. Boyd Cordner
16. David Klemmer
17. Josh Jackson
See Laurie Daley at a press conference announcing the NSW team, courtesy of NSWRL.com.au – CLICK HERE - http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2015/06/30/nsw_names_vb_blues_o.html
