Sydney Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello has backed teammate Todd Carney as the man to provide the spark for NSW in State of Origin game two next month.
The Blues fell 16-12 to Queensland in a gutsy display on Wednesday night, but lacked the ability to put consecutive attacking sets on
the Maroons.
But Minichiello feels that Carney, the reigning Dally M medal winner, is nearing his best form after a club-enforced suspension and groin injury disrupted the start of his season.
"The more games he plays the better he gets. Last week (in the victory over Newcastle), was another strong performance by him," Minichiello told AAP.
"He's getting more confident as he goes on.
"I think he only needs a couple of weeks (and he'll be back to his best)."
After St George Illawarra hooker Dean Young failed to ignite the attack in his 36 minutes on the field in game one, the bench utility role appears wide open for game two, with Michael Ennis a certainty to regain his starting hooking role.
That opens the door for Carney to duel Young and injured Newcastle skipper Kurt Gidley for the final spot on the NSW bench.
Minichiello was confident Carney would be able to fill that utility spot with some attacking flair to combat Queensland's staunch defensive line - and that his versatility could help him get across the line.
"Definitely, obviously halfback, five-eighth are his strongest positions, and I'm sure if they were to pick him off the bench he could fill that number nine spot if needed, and obviously he has experience at (fullback) as well," Minichiello added.
"For sure he would bring something extra in attack (for the Blues)."
Carney will get a perfect chance to show his wares this Saturday when he and Blues halfback Mitchell Pearce take on the game's premier halfback, Johnathan Thurston.
But North Queensland will be without centre Willie Tonga, who will miss up to eight weeks of rugby league with a shoulder injury.
The injury, suffered during the first half of Queensland's victory, will rule Tonga out for the rest of the Origin series - but the 27-year-old received some good news on Friday when told he wouldn't need surgery by orthopaedic surgeon John Maguire.
"I'm relieved ... I was obviously thinking the worst, which is an operation," Tonga said while admitting he feared his season was over.
"I've had my fair share of operations and it's not something I was ready for.
"I think this is the best news that could come out of it."
Tonga said that he was disappointed to miss the remaining matches of Queensland captain Darren Lockyer's Origin swansong series.
"It's unreal to put on that Maroon jersey, and especially with it being Darren Lockyer's last series it was something that I thought about as well," he said.
"I'm glad that I was a part of that and that we had a good win on the Wednesday."
Cowboys coach Neil Henry has added youngster Will Tupou and will decide on who to cull from the squad of 18 on Saturday.
- AAP
Anthony Minichiello (L) and Todd Carney (R) of the Roosters celebrate a try. Photo / Getty Images
Sydney Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello has backed teammate Todd Carney as the man to provide the spark for NSW in State of Origin game two next month.
The Blues fell 16-12 to Queensland in a gutsy display on Wednesday night, but lacked the ability to put consecutive attacking sets on
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