New South Wales hope Robbie Farah to play in State of Origin decider
Tuesday 30 June 2015 14:19, UK
New South Wales have named Robbie Farah for their State of Origin decider against Queensland despite the hooker fracturing his hand at the weekend.
Vice-captain Farah injured his hand in Wests Tigers' loss to Penrith on Sunday and is racing the clock to be ready for the match in Brisbane on July 8.
Michael Jennings was also included despite being arrested on offensive behaviour charges during a run-in with police just over a week ago and being slapped with a one-game suspension by his club Sydney Roosters.
Blues coach Laurie Daley named the same 17 that won game two of the three-match series in Melbourne.
"Robbie's been a big part of our team and will continue to be," Daley said. "We'll give him every opportunity to get right. We'll see how it pans out."
NSW go into the deciding game against the Maroons with the series tied at 1-1. Queensland won this year's first game 11-10 in Sydney, with New South Wales triumphing 26-18 in the second in Melbourne.
Daly Cherry-Evans, who started at half-back for Queensland in the Melbourne loss, was not been included by Maroons coach Mal Meninga.
Meninga said the injured pair of prop Matt Scott and winger Darius Boyd would play despite not traveling to the team's training camp in Proserpine on Tuesday. Scott has a neck ailment and winger Boyd a groin injury.
Meninga said he wasn't surprised his New South Wales counterpart Daley named an unchanged side.
"They are playing good footy at the moment so why would you change?" Meninga said.
Asked if he thought Farah would play, Meninga said: "Probably not, no."
New South Wales: 1 Josh Dugan; 2 Will Hopoate, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Josh Morris, 5 Brett Morris; 6 Mitchell Pearce, 7 Trent Hodkinson; 8 Aaron Woods, 9 Robbie Farah, 10 James Tamou; 11 Beau Scott, 12 Ryan Hoffman, 13 Paul Gallen (c).
Interchange: 14 Trent Merrin, 15 Boyd Cordner, 16 David Klemmer, 17 Josh Jackson.
