Ethan Strange in doubt after training injury, Payne Haas says Lachlan Galvin will be a future Origin halfback, Galvin Blues call up

The NSW Blues have been dealt a potential massive blow with backup half Ethan Strange under an injury cloud for the series-decider at Suncorp Stadium.

Strange limped off Cbus Super Stadium on Thursday afternoon after rolling his ankle.

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“I just rolled it – I should be sweet,” Strange told the SMH as he went in for recovery.

Strange also told teammates he had rolled his ankle a few weeks earlier “but it had not been an issue”.

The Blues have yet to make an official decision on his status and are believed to be confident, though the next 24 hours will be critical.

He will need to be monitored daily until Wednesday’s match.

“Ankles are a funny thing, they can feel like the worst things in the world when you do them, but in two or three days, you realise you can run and strap them up,” Blues back-rower Liam Martin said.

“I’m not a doctor, but I’m backing Strangey to be right. He’s a tough cookie, and if anyone can get through it, I’m sure he will.”

Strange was instrumental in the Blues’ come from behind win in the series opener before he was replaced by Mitchell Moses in the starting side for Game 2.

If he is ruled out he could be replaced from outside the 20-man squad.

Dolphins sensation Isaiya Katoa is out of contention after fracturing his wrist. Jarome Luai, who finished the 2025 series wearing the No.6 jersey for the Blues is also out of this weekend’s Tigers clash with concussion.

Lachie Galvin was in camp over the last few days and is scheduled to return to Sydney after training on Saturday, with his Bulldogs teammate Matt Burton looming as a likely replacement.

NSW coach Laurie Daley could also turn to Newcastle livewire Fletcher Sharpe or Tigers half Adam Doueihi, who was in line for an Origin debut before dislocating his shoulder.

He returned last weekend an impressed despite the Tigers losing 12-6 to the Knights.

HUGE PRAISE FOR DOGS ROOKIE

Blues star Payne Haas believes Lachlan Galvin will be a “future Origin halfback”, revealing he’s been impressed with how Galvin has taken the intense media attention in his stride.

Galvin and Roosters gun Hugo Savala were flown into the Gold Coast to join the Blues camp in Kingscliff. The pair will train with the Blues squad and gain valuable experience around some of the game’s best players.

Galvin has had an up-and-down season for the Bulldogs but his recent form has been decent.

He’s already made a strong impression on Haas, with the star forward admitting he has admired from afar how the young gun has conducted himself through the much-publicised split with the Tigers last year.

“He has taken on a lot already as a kid, and a halfback as well, which is hard because it’s the main position in rugby league. He is still standing and staying strong,” Haas told Code Sports on Wednesday.

“I felt sorry for him with the saga that happened at the Tigers. I felt it wasn’t his own fault but felt it was his management as well.

“People always expect high things from players at a young age, and from agents and management, who put pressure on kids. We have to remember they are human and young kids who are still trying to find their feet in this game.”

Haas believes Galvin has what it takes to lead the Blues in the No. 7 jersey one day, providing the ultimate compliment.

“I feel like he’s a future halfback of this (NSW) team and being in here, rubbing shoulders with Nathan Cleary, will do him wonders.

“He goes after a game a lot and that is what you want from your halfback. He’s not afraid and is a courageous player.”

Blues coach Laurie Daley echoed Haas’ words.

Daley told Code Sports the reason for giving Galvin this opportunity.

“He is a tough young kid who has handled a lot in a short period of time and I think he will learn a lot being in this camp,” Daley said.

“It’s a good reward for a kid I have a lot of time for. He has been through a lot. We just thought it would be a good opportunity for Lachie to come away and be part of the group.

ROBSON RESPONDS TO CRITICS

NSW hooker Reece Robson hopes to prove his critics wrong after there was blowback over his selection for the State of Origin decider following a tough night at the MCG where he was asked to play 80 minutes.

Robson will reunite with Blayke Brailey, who missed Origin II with a broken arm, but was dynamic off the bench in the series opener when he came on for his Roosters rival with 31 minutes to play.

Api Koroisau replaced Brailey on the bench in game two but wasn’t used, with Robson forced to play 80 where he made 42 tackles, missed five and only had two runs despite being a threat through the ruck.

It led to calls for him to be dropped for the decider, but Blues coach Laurie Daley has stuck solid.

“People can have opinions, but I’m happy with where I’m at with my game. I’m looking forward to getting out there on Wednesday night and hopefully proving them wrong,” Robson said.

“The way the game went, we were doing a lot of defence in the second half, and it definitely makes it a lot harder.“I think when you’ve got the rub of the green and everything’s flowing well, it’s easier to get through an 80-minute performance.

“When you’re on the back foot like we were in the second half with a lot of that defence, it wasn’t an easy job out there.

”Robson said he would play the full game if required next Wednesday and game plans could go out the window pretty quickly with bigger benches if someone got hurt early.

“The way the game is today, it’s so uncertain with the benches,” he said.

“It’s not the old four-man bench where you have your rotations set in place and that’s how it kind of works out every time.

“There are so many contingencies in place with the six-man bench and it depends on how the game goes with injuries. There is a plan in place, but it’s definitely a rough guide of things going perfectly, which it hardly does in Origin.”

Meanwhile, star centre Stephen Crichton says he’s the “best I’ve felt” after he made the agonising call to withdraw from game two due to a shoulder injury that would have ruined his training preparations.

He said his shoulder pulled up well after a wrestle session on Wednesday, with Crichton to play a key role on the right edge as the Blues try to stop Queensland’s left edge of Kalyn Ponga, Cameron Munster, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Selwyn Cobbo, who carved up in Melbourne.

“They’ve got strike all over the park, especially down that left edge,” he said, with Crichton starring at five-eighth for Canterbury in recent weeks.

“Ponga loves coming down there, so does Munster, and then their centre and winger are quality players as well, so it’s going to be a massive task for our right edge.

“But I’m very excited to walk towards the challenge and be at my best.”

— Martin Gabor (NCA NewsWire)