ST GEORGE Illawarra teammates have opened up on Tyson Frizell’s inspiring ability to back up from State of Origin, amid a growing backlash over players struggling to be fit for club games.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Queensland captain Cameron Smith and NSW captain Boyd Cordner as well as Blues pair James Tedesco and Brett Morris were others who didn't feature for their NRL teams at the weekend, after the Maroons triumphed to send the series to a decider. It prompted South Sydney coach Michael Maguire to concern the toll it is taking on the Origin players.
"The game definitely needs to look at where its going with the welfare of players," he said.
Frizell played 52 minutes for the Dragons, carting the ball for 143 metres and making 23 tackles, as they came from 28-10 down at half-time to beat Newcastle at Kogarah.
The second-rower has been carrying a rib problem which has forced him to undergo pain-killing injections before games.
“For me, it’s really inspiring, because that was a big (Origin) game they played on Wednesday and Friz has been playing with niggles all year,” hooker Cameron McInnes said. “It’s the same Duges (fullback Josh Dugan), he’s been out (injured) and he was enormous for the Blues as well.
“They don’t complain or whinge or anything, they want to play for us. It’s part of their mentality, that they want to back up. Duges was outstanding as well, he had over 250 metres and puts on the front foot in the second half.”
Seven of the 29 players who were eligible to play for their club sides after a frenetic series opener were either rested or deemed injured.
And that number only increased after game two meaning 16 – almost an entire side – of players have not backed after the two matches of the series. The NRL will introduce one standalone Origin on Sunday night in 2018 – likely to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground – under a Wednesday-Sunday-Wednesday format.
The Dragons forward pack took on a huge workload on Sunday, after prop Paul Vaughan came from the field with a calf injury in the opening minutes.
Russell Packer played 56 minutes, making 29 tackles and running for 135 metres, while Leeson Ah Mau filled the void left by Vaughan, with 172 metres made and 33 tackles in 59 minutes.
Vaughan had scans on Monday and is expected to miss at least three weeks.
“It it’s bad, hopefully it’s at least as good as bad can be,” Tariq Sims said.
The Dragons have a short turnaround this week, meeting the Titans on the Gold Coast on Friday.