Mitchell Moses has declared that he will play for New South Wales on Wednesday evening, where the Blues could well win the 2026 State of Origin series with a victory, even as he manages a hamstring injury that has kept him from playing any matches since he was ruled out of the series opener.
The veteran failed to attend NSW’s first contact sessions last Thursday, but has since played in several tests through Saturday and Sunday on the Central Coast, before declaring that he would be right to play.
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The 31-year-old was meant to play for the Blues in Game One and was named in the number six jumper, but was then a late scratching thanks to a hamstring injury that he’d picked up in training.
Ethan Strange came in to replace him and had a best-on-ground performance (though the player of the match gong eventually went to Nathan Cleary). All that had led to calls for Moses to stand aside for Strange again, especially as he continued to nurse the injury that had originally sidelined him.
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“I’m ready to go,” Moses declared today. “There’s been a bit of talk lately, but that’s how it is and fully expected I guess especially coming off what happened. I’m good… ready to go.”
“I think you have been talking about it [my hamstring] a lot more,” he continued. “I fully understand, there’s no hiding from it but I am fully confident in myself that I can go out there and do a job.
“What gives me confidence? I’m not too sure. I’m just confident in myself that I have put the work in and there are a few more sessions to go.
“I feel like I am in a good position to be able to perform on Wednesday.”
The Blues five-eighth also confirmed he’ll be able to split the kicking duties with his halves partner, Cleary. “It’s the other leg [left], it will be fine,” Moses said. “It’s got nothing to do with that leg, obviously it’s my plant leg but honestly the hamstring was just a scratch on my hammy.”
Strange is still in the squad, of course – and this Sporting Base writer would have given him the start after his Game One heroics – and may see game time throughout the Melbourne clash. It’s understood Laurie Daley plans to use him in some capacity off the bench, as long as rotations allow.
The only other question is whether Moses and Cleary can combine better – and Moses says “yes.”
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“We’re not too worried about the combinations, I feel like we’re OK there. It’s obviously not ideal missing the first session of camp,” Moses said.
“I feel like we’ve put in a lot of work in the first camp and I’ve played with Nathan and everyone else before so I felt pretty comfortable going into this game, but we have another session today to work on our combinations.
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“I’m pretty excited to be honest. For Loz to give me another chance here I’m very excited and I want to grab it with both hands. I feel like I’ve put the work in and I’m ready to go,” he said emphatically.
Origin Game Two will be played at 8PM at the MCG on Wednesday.
