Michael Jennings of the Panthers sits on the bench after being injured. Photo / Getty Images
NSW hooker Michael Ennis says centre Michael Jennings' recovery from an ankle complaint has inspired the Blues ahead of tomorrow night's State of Origin decider.
But the Blues' rake has been reluctant to talk about the make-up of the NSW side as coach Ricky Stuart faces a healthy selection headache.
After arriving in Brisbane, the Blues have claimed all of their injury concerns are fit to play - Jennings (ankle), Beau Scott (knee), Ben Creagh (ankle), Glenn Stewart (back), Jamie Soward (hamstring) and Kurt Gidley (hamstring).
But Jennings appears to have provided the biggest shot in the arm. The Penrith gamebreaker was considered little chance of playing despite being named last week in the initial Origin III squad.
But he is now tipped to take his place in the NSW team at Suncorp Stadium. "Mick has worked tirelessly with our physio - they put a programme together and he is responding to that," Ennis said yesterday.
"It is inspiring, his attitude, how much he wants to play for NSW and the commitment he has made to get out on the field."
But Ennis did not want to get involved in the debate over how Stuart might trim his 19-man Blues' squad.
Before any questions were asked, he said: "I am not going to make any comments about the team [make-up]. If you want to know about the team, talk to Ricky - I am here to play a footy game, not select a footy team, all right."
Ennis said NSW were happy to finally be in Brisbane for what looms as one of the great Origin clashes. Queensland hope to send off retiring skipper Darren Lockyer a winner by sealing six straight series.
"We are starting to knuckle down and get on with the game," Ennis said. "It is Locky's final game. It has been pumped up and rightly so - the guy is a legend. They will want to send him off with a fairytale. We know we have a job to do that is very difficult but there is belief in the camp."
- AAP
