The smart money is on him being cleared. The suggestion from some, though, is that Fittler has backflipped on his own policy of not picking injured players. The coach says that's more philosophy, not a hard-and-fast rule. He’s one of those new kids to come through the ranks basically as a professional. He just knows what it takes and is willing to do it.” Brad Fittler In game one, backrower Tyson Frizell didn’t do contact work until three days before the match after he suffered a concussion the week before while playing for the Dragons. “Whether there’s been a change or not with Nathan, it’s just that everyone is different,” Fittler told the Herald. “The fact that it’s the last game, the fact is he’s been part of them for two years … there are a lot of things you have to weigh up.

"His position, also, I think is important. He’s a link person so that’s a factor. And the injury. He’s not carrying a broken ankle or a broken jaw. It’s whether he can get power off it and have some mobility and the rest is dealing with pain. And I think he handles that well … if anyone can heal fast, it’s him." Blues halfback Nathan Cleary is tipped to be fit for the Origin decider. Credit:AAP Why’s that? “Just his diligence. He’s one of those new kids to come through the ranks basically as a professional. He just knows what it takes and is willing to do it.” Not many people share the depth of Fittler’s faith in Cleary, but it’s admirable to see the coach backing his playmaker.

As we’ve heard on countless occasions, he’s all about the “effort areas”. When Cleary injured his ankle, he impressed Blues coaching staff when he jumped to his feet for a quick play-the-ball. You can’t fault Cleary’s attitude. He’s been blowtorched from round one this year but doesn’t hide from reporters. Instead, he quietly introduces himself to them as he did in the hotel foyer in Perth. In the decider in Sydney, he will play the biggest match of his career. Few players face their personal waterloo so early in their career. It's a gamble but Cleary being fit for this match is a far better option for Fittler than him being ruled out. Parachuting in Mitchell Pearce late in the week will disrupt a winning side, not just in terms of the way the Blues play but also the media circus that will shadow him at every session.

Loading The cheap line is that NSW ran away with Origin II when Cleary was off the field in the second half. In reality, the Blues led 18-6 with the result essentially in the bag. He wasn’t spectacular but he wasn’t dreadful, as his growing legion of detractors want to claim. He is the unassuming ying to the fiery yang of five-eighth James Maloney, who plays alongside him at Penrith. It remains unclear what happens if Cleary is ruled out. At the time of writing, Pearce hadn’t received a phone call from the Blues asking him to come into camp as an 18th man. Some on Fittler’s coaching staff want Wade Graham, who filled in for Cleary with aplomb in the second half in Perth.

Graham’s all-round game, along with that of Jack Wighton, who played at left centre, gave the Blues a lethal dimension in their 38-6 win only picked up by far wiser judges than this column. The Blues tore up their playbook from game one, in which they tried to roll through the middle of the ruck; first, with props David Klemmer and Paul Vaughan, then hooker Damien Cook and fullback James Tedesco. Instead, in game two, they confused the Maroons defence with the likes of Wighton and then Graham at first receiver because both can kick, run and pass. It put the Maroons defence in two minds. Then came the masterstroke of playing Tedesco and Tom Trbojevic as two fullbacks in attack. Tedesco was arguably the best player on the field. Trobjevic scored three tries. High in the stands at Optus Stadium, some of Queensland’s legendary players quietly acknowledged that it had been a coaching masterclass.