League: Meninga unfazed by illness in squad

Queensland coach Mal Meninga. Photo / Getty Images

Queensland coach Mal Meninga insists he has no plans to bring in a shadow player for skipper Cameron Smith, who is quarantined while suffering flu-like symptoms two days out from the league State of Origin series opener.

Smith was one of several Queensland players displaying what team doctor Roy Saunders described as upper respiratory tract viral infections.

"Some players, like Dave Shillington and Billy Slater, are coming out of it while others, like Cam Smith, are going into it," Saunders said.

"We've put Cameron into isolation to keep him away from the other players and we're continuing to monitor the progress of the players displaying symptoms."

Meninga said there was no thought of calling in an extra hooker even though his squad does not contain a backup for skipper Smith.

"He's just got a touch of the flu," said Meninga, playing down concerns after his skipper was replaced by Sam Thaiday at yesterday's media conference for the Queensland and NSW captains and coaches at Etihad Stadium.

"This is more precautionary to make sure we get on top of things early," said Meninga.

"The last thing he [Smith] wanted to do was come to a press conference not feeling well.

"We'll isolate him from the rest of the team for 24 hours and see how he pulls up tomorrow."

Smith, who has played 24 of the past 25 Origins, is set to make his Queensland captaincy debut at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium tomorrow night, after taking over from Darren Lockyer.

Meninga admitted if Smith was still ill this morning, he would have to look at his options.

"We haven't got that far yet.

"We've got a day off today so we'll make those decisions if we have to, probably tomorrow morning."

"I'm very confident he [Smith] will be fine," said Meninga.

"Shillo [prop David Shillington] was the same at the beginning of the week and he got over it in 24 hours. He didn't train last Wednesday but he was back on the paddock the next day.

"Cam is a similar case. We've got the doc looking after him, but he's been crook himself.

"The doc, or Shillo or even Billy [Slater] may have brought it into camp.

"We want our players to perform well on Wednesday night and to be as fit and healthy as they possibly can so we'll look after them with kid gloves."

Meninga is expecting Smith to lead the Maroons on their final captain's training run today.

- AAP