League: Gidley's fitness a worry for NSW

Blues captain Kurt Gidley is expected to start despite his lack of recent training. Photo / Getty Images

New South Wales skipper Kurt Gidley is set to go into Wednesday night's Origin series finale in Brisbane with just one training session under his belt.

Nursing a rib cartilage complaint that has left him a spectator throughout the Blues' Origin III buildup, Gidley is expected to be rested again when NSW hold their first session in Brisbane today.

Fullback Gidley is still considered an almost certain starter and is expected to take part in the final session tomorrow, but after the dismal display which followed their injury-disrupted preparations for game two, Gidley's lack of training must be a concern to coach Craig Bellamy.

Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten, who trained with the Blues on Friday and Saturday before flying to Auckland to play in yesterday's NRL win over the Warriors, will rejoin the Blues in Brisbane and again deputise for Gidley at training.

Speaking during the buildup to the Suncorp Stadium clash, when the Blues will attempt to avoid the first series clean sweep since 1995, Gidley said he was desperate to get on the field.

"It's disappointing to have lost the series, but to go 3-0 is not an option," Gidley said.

"Certainly for myself and the rest of the boys it'd be embarrassing and bitterly disappointing if that was to happen.

"It'd be nice to get something out of this series and get a win up there.

"Being captain you certainly feel some responsibility for the team and it'd be nice to go up there and get a win out of this series in front of their home crowd."

Despite the influx of new players, particularly Brett Kimmorley at halfback and Michael Ennis at hooker, Gidley was adamant his role would not change and he would continue to float between fullback and closer to the ruck.

The return of Craig Wing from the hamstring injury which ruled him out from game two gives Bellamy another option at dummy half, but Gidley was confident the plethora of playmakers could coexist.

"It doesn't change my role at all," Gidley said of the reshaped squad.

"I've enjoyed playing with all the guys in the past two games and certainly most of the new guys. You know most of the guys when you come into these camps and you always get off on the right foot."

New South Wales halfback Brett Kimmorley has joined the chorus of calls for State of Origin to be given standalone status.

Critics have complained that the series robs clubs of key players either side of the midweek Origin matches and proves a distraction at a crucial stage of the NRL season.

"Play State of Origin on a Sunday, or leave it as it is. But whatever the solution, there is no doubt it could be standalone," Kimmorley told the Sunday Herald Sun in Sydney.

- AAP