LIVE: Gal's 'quality' smokey for Blues hooker

While overmuch of the absorption of Blues enactment statement has been astir who replaces Nathan Cleary astatine halfback, Paul Gallen has thrown up a smokey to deterioration the No.9.

With Nicho Hynes 1 of the favourites to deterioration the No.7 successful Game II astatine Suncorp Stadium, Gallen said Brad Fittler would beryllium well-served by picking Blayke Brailey astatine hooker.

Gallen utilized an illustration from Anzac Round wherever Brailey ran astir a marker that had not acceptable themselves earlier the play the ball, which saw the Sharks spell adjacent to scoring.

"He is simply a prime hooker. He knows what to do," Gallen said.

"We spot this marker has his backmost turned. Brailey tin spot that, helium tin spot the numbers connected his back, truthful helium knows if helium tin get retired and up present down the play the shot area, determination is large abstraction … (and) that's precisely what helium does."

"Blayke Brailey, whether it's this twelvemonth oregon not, helium volition beryllium determination successful the future. He is simply a prime player.

Brailey got a sensation of Origin erstwhile helium was added to the extended Blues squad up of Game I.

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Nathan Cleary said the Blues wounded toll heading into Origin II is "pretty crazy".

Whilst his ain is the astir significant, injuries to Liam Martin, Api Koroisau, Cody Walker, and adjacent Latrell Mitchell has near Brad Fittler with much than a headache with selection.

"It's been beauteous crazy, and it seems similar it's each happened successful the abstraction of a week oregon two," helium said connected Nine's Sunday Footy Show.

"It's been the aforesaid for some sides. It's disappointing, but it gives different radical opportunities."

Billy Slater inactive has a fewer options up his sleeve to capable the voids near by Jai Arrow and Tom Gilbert.

"Obviously Felise Kaufusi, helium won't play a crippled but helium volition beryllium available," Slater said connected Nine's Sunday Footy Show.

"Jeremiah Nanai played connected the play aft being suspended for 3 weeks, truthful determination are a mates of options.

"Whoever steps into those shoes volition surely person immoderate large shoes to fill."

Former New South Wales skipper Boyd Cordner is backing Nicho Hynes to onshore a spot successful the halves for crippled two.

Hynes is 1 of a fistful of players successful contention for the starting broadside aft Nathan Cleary's hamstring injury.

Adam Reynolds, Mitchell Moses, and Cody Walker are each hoping to beryllium picked, portion Jarome Luai is hoping to clasp his spot astatine five-eighth.

"If anything, if it's not Nicho (at halfback), I'd similar to spot Nicho astatine five-eighth," Cordner told 2GB's Continuous Call Team.

"And Reyno (Reynolds) successful astatine halfback determination with (Damien) Cook astatine hooker... But if not, I'm blessed for Nicho to travel successful and Luai to beryllium astatine five-eighth."

BREAKING: Spencer Leniu is escaped to marque his Origin debut, if New South Wales wish.

The Panthers guardant tin judge a good for 2 "contrary conduct" charges stemming from his run-in with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

Hargreaves has besides escaped a ban.

Lenui is eligible for the Blues but was not disposable for crippled 1 aft rupturing a testicle during Panthers training.

Queensland manager Billy Slater and New South Wales large Andrew Johns had a tense infinitesimal erstwhile the second suggested the erstwhile was "wearing Queensland glasses".

On Nine's NRL Sunday Footy Show, Slater was asked to remark connected Maroons enforcer Tino Fa'asuamaleaui getting cleared for precocious interaction connected Wests Tigers hooker Api Koroisau connected Thursday night.

Koroisau's jaw was breached and helium volition miss Origin II, portion Fa'asuamaleaui is escaped to play.

"When I heard the wounded to Api I felt for him," Slater said.

"The 1 happening I couldn't find is the amerciable enactment from Tino, truthful I wasn't definite which mode the lucifer reappraisal committee were going to lean.

"Obviously it was a beauteous superior injury, but the 1 happening I kept going backmost to was I couldn't spot an amerciable enactment from Tino. The lucifer reappraisal committee saw it that mode and I'm gladsome they did."

Johns, with a grin connected his face, couldn't assistance but effort to get a emergence retired of the Maroons coach.

"Did you person your Queensland glasses connected erstwhile you were watching?" Johns asked.

Slater was triggered, responding with a consecutive face, "No but I cognize you had your NSW glasses on".

Johns remained lighthearted with, "Too right, they're ever connected Bill".

Nathan Cleary says helium is simply a accidental to beryllium acceptable for crippled three, should the Blues propulsion the bid to a decider successful Sydney.

Cleary injured his hamstring past week erstwhile playing for Penrith, and has been ruled retired of crippled two.

He appeared connected Nine's Sports Sunday and was asked if helium volition beryllium disposable for the third.

"There is astir apt a chance, but to beryllium honorable I haven't thought astir it excessively much," Cleary said.

"I'm conscionable trying to get the process close now. It's not thing you privation to unreserved either, it's not truly a symptom tolerance thing. You spot a batch of radical unreserved backmost aboriginal and bash it again, truthful that's the past happening I privation to do.

"We'll play it by receptor and spot however it goes."

New South Wales has already mislaid halfback Nathan Cleary (hamstring) and hooker Api Koroisau (jaw) for the 2nd Origin game.

Now the Blues look apt to suffer backrower Liam Martin, too, who was concussed connected Saturday and judged to person class 1 symptoms, requiring an 11-day stand-down.

Martin was 1 of NSW's champion successful crippled one, but with 11 days betwixt being concussed and Origin II, helium volition astir surely person to miss out.