Hodges Hamstring Causing Problems Again
Maroons centre Justin Hodges sent a wave of panic through the Queensland origin camp yesterday when he limped off the training track while clutching at a hamstring.
Queensland supporters would have been holding their breath after news emerged that Hodges had ‘felt a slight twinge in his good hammy’, however Queensland doctor Roy Saunders alleyed fears when he said there is no evidence that Hodges had done any serious damage.
“He felt a slight tightness in the hamstring at training, whether that was just cramp or just some tightness we’re not sure. But there’s no evidence of a tear and he won’t be having any scans,” Saunders said.
“We’ll treat him and monitor him but all we’ve got at the moment is he pulled up feeling a little tight in his hammy.
“It’s more precautionary than anything. Given his hamstring history we’re being obsessively cautious.”
Hodges suffered a low grade tear of the hamstring in the Anzac test, and he made his first appearance back from injury in appalling conditions in Perth last weekend.
Hodges right hand edge combination with Bronco team mates Darren Lockyer, Sam Thaiday and Jharal Yow Yeh will be crucial if the Maroons are to wrap a sixth straight series next Wednesday.
Earlier in there week the were concerns over Greg Inglis, who was suffering from a shoulder injury, and Jharal Yow Yeh, who was suffering from the flu. Hence the reason Queensland coach Mal Meninga included outside back Dane Nielsen in the squad.
On both sides of the border this year’s decider is being billed as one of the biggest games in origin history. On one hand Queensland will be trying to send retiring skipper Darren Lockyer out on a winning note, on the other the Blues are desperately trying to avoid a sixth straight series defeat.
Queensland have taken the unusual step of implementing a media blackout over the weekend. That means none of the players will available for media interviews, and all training sessions will be held behind closed doors.
Maroons skipper Darren Lockyer said that the move was designed to help the Maroons stay focussed on the task at hand.
“We’ll be back on Monday. We just need some time over the weekend to work on some things without any distractions,” he said.
Lockyer has continued to downplay the hype surrounding his final origin appearance, saying he will be content regardless of the result, so long as he knows he gave his all.
“I think I’d love to win it more than anyone. I’ve also got to look at the other side of the coin, that id that doesn’t happen, I’ll have to live with that,”
“The biggest thing for me is having no regrets. I’ve worked out a bit of a plan in my head that I want to do this week and in the game and I think that will, regardless of the result, give me my best chance of having no regrets.
“When you have regrets you ask yourself if you could have done more. It’s about doing everything right this week with preparation and working hard on the night of the game.”
