Blues star reveals status after injury scare; Johns names his QLD No.7 — Origin Daily

Sydney Roosters and NSW Blues star back-rower Angus Crichton has revealed that he is available for selection to play in this year’s series-opener despite a minor injury scare.

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Leaving the field against the Broncos in Round 9 with an MCL (medial cruciate ligament) injury, Crichton was expected to miss a handful of games but bounced back immediately for last week’s win against the Gold Coast.

“It was a bit of a scare, I just had a little bit of a stretch in that MCL and a bit of bone bruising,” Crichton told AAP.

“I had to get off it for a couple of days but the physios were really good.

”It’s pretty much sweet. It’s a little bit sore but it’s nothing new. At this time of year, you’ve always got niggles everywhere.“

The most recent player to win the Wally Lewis Medal, he admits that he will look to have a starring performance this weekend in Magic Round to impress coach Laurie Daley one more time.

“(But) they still haven’t picked the team yet. I’ve still got to keep grinding and making sure that I’m stacking together as many good games as I can,” he added.

“Your jersey is always earned, it’s never yours.”

JOEY JOHNS NAMES HIS QLD NO.7

State of Origin legend Andrew ‘Joey’ Johns has named who should wear the famed No.7 jersey for the Queensland Maroons as multiple candidates remain in contention.

In his weekly column for The Sydney Morning Herald, Johns stated that it’s time for QLD coach Billy Slater to hand the halfback role to Sam Walker, who was “born for the Origin stage”.

Meanwhile, he responded to rumours of Kalyn Ponga potentially slotting into the halves with Cameron Munster as “absolutely laughable”.

Drawing comparison to Allan Langer, Walker has been around the Maroons set-up for a number of years and would have no trouble competing in the representative arena.

“I really like Sammy. He’s a great character, he’s plenty of fun, and he’s a typical halfback: cheeky, extroverted, and life of the party,” Johns wrote.

“But I can’t wish him luck if he gets the nod for Queensland against my NSW Blues.

Other options include Ben Hunt, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake Clifford and Tanah Boyd.

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“My hand is always up,” Walker told media on Wednesday.

“Not at all (concerned about my defence). I’m working as hard as I can on my football, I’m doing everything I can do in my control at the moment.

“Everyone is going to have their own opinions. I can’t control that, all I can do is keep working hard at training and keep doing my best performances on the weekend.

“(Angus Crichton) has made it hard for me at training the last couple years, having that big body I have to handle there.

“It’s been really good, if you can tackle players like that it makes tackling anyone on the weekend a bit easier.“

TOWNSEND SELECTS HIS NSW AND QLD SIDE

A former NRL halfback for the Cronulla Sharks, New Zealand Warriors, North Queensland Cowboys and Sydney Roosters, Chad Townsend has made his NSW Blues and QLD Maroons squad predictions ahead of the series-opener.

For his Blues side for Game One, Townsend has opted to move Stephen Crichton to the wing, which allows Kotoni Staggs to come into the squad and play in the centres.

Hudson Young and Haumole Olaka’atu will be the starting back-rowers with Angus Crichton moving to the bench and Liam Martin unavailable due to injury.

Another switch sees Isaah Yeo move to the front-row, while Blayke Brailey, Keaon Koloamatangi, Mitch Barnett, Angus Crichton, Campbell Graham and Jackson Ford being on the six-man bench.

Meanwhile, for his QLD Maroons team, he has decided to keep incumbent centres Gehamat Shibasaki and Robert Toia in the starting line-up with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow moving to the wing.

Other changes include having Dolphins back-rower Kulikefu Finefuiaki in the starting line-up and Jamal Fogarty as the No.7 to replace the injured Tom Dearden.

Kalyn Ponga, Moeaki Fotuaki, Corey Horsburgh, Ben Hunt, Beau Fermor and Heilum Luki are the names on the six-man bench.

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