Injury scare forces shock Blues call; NSW star responds to DCE's ...

Maroons assistant coach Josh Hannay has cheekily denied there was any intention behind Queensland’s late arrival to Tuesday’s joint press conference.

Hannay smirked when a reporter asked if Billy Slater, Harry Grant and Daly Cherry-Evans arriving late to the media opportunity was a deliberate ploy from the Maroons to try and rattle the Blues.

“Being late to the fan day, was that intentional? The Blues were a little bit teed off about it,” a reporter asked Hannay.

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“What happened there sorry?” the Maroons assistant replied.

“You guys were maybe ten minutes late to the fan day,” the reporter remarked.

“Yeah unaware of that,” Hannay said with a grin.

“No intention there. It is what it is.”

The Blues were reportedly “filthy” with Queensland’s tardiness, with Maguire commenting, “I always like to turn up on time.”

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INJURY SCARE FORCES SHOCK BLUES CALL

In just his second State of Origin appearance, NSW winger Zac Lomax has reportedly been given the nod for the all-important goalkicking job for the Blues.

The Blues needed a new man to fill the role after Game I kicker Nicho Hynes was dropped.

Recalled half Mitch Moses was the warm favourite to take over in Game II, but due to an injury scare in camp, the Eels star pulled out of the race to take conversions according to The Daily Telegraph.

Moses, who has missed most of the 2024 season with a fractured foot, will be right to play on Wednesday night.

However he has experienced some soreness in that foot during Origin camp and hence, has decided to remove himself from the running for the goalkicking gig.

Lomax, who is striking at just under 80% with the boot this season, beat out Souths star Latrell Mitchell for the job, with the Blues coaching staff reportedly only making their decision late Tuesday.

STAR’S REGRET OVER REACTION TO DCE TREATMENT

Blues edge forward Angus Crichton says he regrets not “getting in the face” of Maroons halfback Daly Cherry-Evans after the Queensland star was caught delivering a “cheap shot” in Game I.

The incident was brought to light by Blues legend Andrew Johns, who urged Crichton to fight back in Game II.

“I actually saw a clip of a bit of cheap shot from Daly,” Johns said.

“He got Angus on the ground, so Angus don’t cop that mate.”

The vision shows Cherry-Evans roughing up Crichton with a push to the head before dropping his knees into the Blues star.

“I should have got up and reacted,” Crichton told NRL.com when asked about the incident.

“When I watched the game back I regretted not getting in his face there, but I’ll save it for Game II.

“That’s life but we will get on with it and get a win in Melbourne.”

Cherry-Evans played a straight bat when asked about the incident at Wednesday’s joint press conference.

“It’s the first I’ve heard of it, only because this time of year it’s honestly not in my best interests to be watching what you guys talk about,” Cherry-Evans said.

“I don’t mean that out of disrespect, there’s obviously a job for you guys to do to create hype and excitement around our game.

“I really don’t have a great understanding about what has been said this week, I’m just excited about going out there and playing.”

MADGE FUELS FIRE AGAIN WITH ANOTHER BILLY SLEDGE

Blues coach Michael Maguire has fired another shot at Billy Slater and the Maroons ahead of Game II at the MCG.

Following a drama-filled build up to the MCG clash after Maguire’s ‘glass houses’ sledge -widely assumed to be aimed at Slater – the Origin coaches went head-to-head at a joint press conference in Melbourne’s Federation Square.

Maguire and Blues captains Jake Trbojevic and Isaah Yeo arrived on time, but the presser started 10-15 minutes late due to the tardiness of Slater, Daly Cherry-Evans and Harry Grant.

Maguire wasn’t too impressed by Queensland’s lack of punctuality.

“Well, I always like to turn up on time,” Maguire told The Daily Telegraph following the press conference.

While Slater and Maguire shook hands at the press conference, the pair didn’t engage with each other while on stage.

In an awkward moment on NRL360 last Monday, Slater said he never believed Maguire’s sledge was aimed at him. He stuck with that stance when asked about it during the press conference.

Maguire however, appeared to confirm the ‘glass houses’ jab was directed at Slater, who accrued a lengthy judiciary rap sheet during his playing days.

“I think you all worked that out so I’ll leave that with you guys, but one thing I do is that I look after my players and we look after our players so that’s where it was focused,” Maguire said.