The talented footballer, who turns 30 next week, only returned to the NRL arena midway through the 2010 season following a two-year stint playing Rugby Union in Europe for French club State Français.

Having recently represented the New South Wales Blues during their heart-breaking sixth consecutive State of Origin series loss to the Queensland Maroons this year, the representative centre is preparing to walk away from the game at the end of the year.

“I knew the other night would be my last Origin and I knew this Monday would be my last game at Kogarah,” Gasiner said at today’s conference.

“I was thankful for the opportunity (to play Origin again) and that team (the Blues) is going places.

“There is a culture back here that Origin is alive.

“I am really looking forward to sitting back and watching next year.”

Gasnier also mentioned that he spoke with Dragons chief executive Peter Doust back in February about his desire to retire at the end of the season, Doust believing his intentions were made jokingly.

“He didn’t think I was serious and laughed it off, but then I rang him a couple of months ago and said I was fair dinkum and that he should look around to spend the extra cash for me on a new player,” Gasnier said.

“I just want to start the next phase of my life and that feeling has only got stronger as the season has progressed.

“I decided earlier on in the year, but finding the right time to announce it was difficult – now is the right time.

“It was something I have considered for a long time.

“It’s a thought process that you want to make sure you’re fair dinkum about it.

“Sometimes your thought process changes with the mood you’re in and you want to make sure you go through the troughs.”

Gasnier played an instrumental role in the Wayne Bennett-coached Dragons NRL Telstra Premiership victory last year, which broke a three decade Premiership drought for St George.

Despite a troublesome ankle, Gasnier has continued to impress his teammates and the fans again this year as St George vie for back-to-back titles this season.

“I am happy and content with the decision I have made,” Gasnier said at the press conference.

“I can’t thank the club enough.

“I really need to play well at the back end of the season to help the team out.”

The Dragons are currently ranked third on the NRL Ladder having won 11 games in the opening 18 rounds of the competition, the team desperate for a second successive premiership victory to farewell coach Bennett who moves to the Newcastle Knights next year.

Along with Bennett and now Gasnier, the other big name omission from the Red V’s line-up in 2012 will be Darius Boyd who is set to join Bennett with the Knights.

Interestingly, Gasnier made his NRL debut against the Knights back in 2000 and since then has gone on to enjoy a decorated and highly celebrated career that currently stands at 166 games for St George.

He also said that Bennett’s exit from the club did not play into his retirement decision.

“Physically I could play on for a couple of years, but mentally I couldn’t,” he said.

“I would love to be coached by Steve Price here, that didn’t have one ounce of influence over my decision.

“But mentally I don’t think I’d be 100 per cent there.”

Nephew of Rugby League Immortal Reg Gasnier, Gasnier has represented his country in 15 Tests and donned the Blues Origin jersey 12 times, both remarkable achievements.

“The club can move on, I can move on post football,” Gasnier said in regards to the future.

“It has been a good year for me, I have enjoyed it, but I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much next year.

“It allows the club to move on, maintain talent and nurture talent.

“The club’s been so good to me, they’ve always done everything right with me.”

Recently becoming a first-time father with the birth of his son Kalani Jean, Gasnier confessed throughout this year’s Origin series that family and not football was becoming his main focus.

“I want to finish here,” Gasnier told The Australian.

“I said it the whole way along – I have another two years after this with the Dragons but if I don’t think I can offer them as much as I would like to offer them than I would step aside.

“I came back (to the NRL) with a purpose and that purpose was to win a premiership.”

That purpose may be doubly achieved come the end of this season.

He expressed these same sentiments at the conference today.

“My mind was made up before the birth of my son, but it’s a great confirmation,” he said.

“It’s the best thing to happen to me every, I love spending time with him.”

After Gasnier’s announcement, Doust expressed his thoughts about the retirement of one of the club’s greats.

“When Gaz came back to Australia and the Dragons, we planned a long term together,” the Dragons CEO said.

“But I have known him for a long time now and I know he has given this a great deal of thought – and it’s not easy to turn him away from it, even though it’s my job to keep him playing as long as possible.

“One of the things about planning playing rosters is that you have to know these things pretty early in the piece…and we all thank Mark for his decision in recognition of the needs of the club.”

Talking about where the Dragons would go from the end of the season, Doust was quick to drop the names of the players he believed could step up and help St George continue to achieve on the field next season.

“Kyle Stanley is an important part of the long term development at the Dragons, (Jason) Nightingale is the same and of course we’ve added Tim Moltzen to the roster. Chase Stanley too,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s possible to replace Mark, he does leave a hole.”

Just over a week after being a part of the Maroon’s historic sixth straight Origin series win over the Blues, Queensland players Darren Lockyer, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Ben Hannant, Corey Parker and Sam Thaiday have all been appointed in the Broncos’ extended 19-man squad for this weekend.

The recall of all the Origin boys for the Broncos will inject energy and confidence in the team ahead of Friday night’s derby that Brisbane come into fresh off a Round 18 bye.

The Titans, on the other hand, are backing up after another disastrous loss having gone down 22 – 6 to the Warriors at a wet and wind Mt Smart Stadium showdown last Friday night.

Losing to New Zealand was Mat Roger’s sour welcome back to the NRL, the dual international having lined up for his former club after answering their SOS for his temporary return.

The Titans are now raging favourites to take out the Wooden Spoon as they sit last on the ladder with just 12 competition points having won only four games this season.

Brisbane, on the other hand, continue to emerge as genuine 2011 NRL Telstra Premiership contenders sitting fifth on the ladder with 11 wins and five losses for the season to date.

The six resuming players for Brisbane, including inspirational skipper Lockyer who was given a fairytale farewell from the Origin arena, will have just one run with the rest of the team on Thursday.

Coach Anthony Griffin is unconcerned about the likes of Thaiday and Parker not having trained since Origin, saying all of his representative players had come through the series in full fitness.

“All our guys had a good series and they’ve all got through (without injury) so it’ll be good to have them all back,” Griffin said.

There are eight rounds remaining for the regular NRL season, Brisbane a live Top 4 hope if they can win on Friday before their Round 20 battle with the top-of-the-table Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park Friday week.

Brisbane have an advantageous late-run to a finals bid after their clash with the Storm, the club to play four of their final six games at home.

In Round 21 and 22 they are back-to-back in Brisbane first hosting the Sharks and then the Warriors.

They then travel up to North Queensland to take on the in-form Cowboys in Round 23 before another away game this time in Newcastle taking on the Knights in Round 24.

Seeing out the regular season at home, Brisbane play the Rabbitohs at Suncrop in Round 25 before their big Round 26 showdown with Manly.

Griffin will be hoping for more luck with the Broncos than former coach Ivan Henjak did 12 months ago, Brisbane winning just three of their last eight games in the 2010 NRL minor season.

In a gamble, Griffin chose to rest his Origin reps throughout the series with a young Brisbane crew left to negotiate the mid-season games without the experience of Locky.

They held strong and now the team looks strong and ready for the next two months, Griffin stating the rest of his representative players is shaping up more and more as the right move to have made.

“I hope it pays off, it’s obviously why we did it so that we could gain some sort of advantage later in the year if they’re all fresh,” he said.

“I think Locky land Sam (Thaiday) only had to back up once over the whole period and other guys, Benny Hannant and Corey Parker had a break.

“We’re hoping we can stay fit and we’ll be as fresh as possible coming into the back end of the year.”

Stuart remains uncommitted for next year, but there has been rumours circulating that he is line for the top job at the Bulldogs, who have been struggling so far this year under Kevin Moore.

If Stuart was to take up a full time coaching role with an NRL club, it would more than likely spell the end of his time as Blues coach as New South Wales officials have indicated that they would prefer to follow the lead of the Maroons and employ a full time coach.

However in the aftermath of one of New South Wales’ lowest points in origin history a number of Blues players have come out and publicly backed Stuart to remain in charge next year.

Blues five eighth Jamie Soward, who had been repeatedly snubbed by past origin coaches was one player who thought the Blues could rebuild under Stuart.

“His passion has dictated how New South Wales will play for the next five, ten or fifteen years,” Soward said.

“Ricky’s got the passion now from the players and everyone wants to be in a blue jumper. He’s put a lot of hard work in and we wouldn’t want anyone else coaching us. We are behind him 100 per cent.”

Blues lock Greg Bird, who played under Stuart in his time at Cronulla, was another who threw his support behind Stuart.

“I think we’ve built something strong and we’re headed in the right direction,” Bird said.

“We can take that into next year and hopefully we’ve got a very similar squad and the same coach and we can start working together like Queensland have done over the past few years.”

Stuart has also received support from legendary Queensland coach Wayne Bennet who says that Stuart had bought the passion back to the Blues outfit that has been out enthused by the Maroons for so long.

“I think Ricky has done a great job and should continue with it. Bringing them together and motivating them. I think Ricky did that really well,” Bennet said.

Bennett also credited Stuart with making this year’s series one of the most entertaining in recent times because the Blues coach had ‘bought the hate back to origin’.

“It’s great to have real origin back. Queensland were beginning to feel sorry for New South Wales,” he said.

“But Ricky has changed that. Now the polls are back in the Brisbane paper inviting Queenslanders to list the five things they hate most about New South Wales.

“Hate is not a word a like and while it was disappointing to hear the crowd boo Gallen as the brave captain made his speech, it was reflective of origin.”

The record crowd of 52,498 Queensland fans let out a collective moan in the 58^th minute of last night’s epic 2011 State of Origin decider, the Maroons’ securing their sixth straight series success with a 34-24 victory over New South Wales, when star No. 7 Johnathan Thurston suffered a horrific leg injury.

Attempting to make a tackle on Blues’ forward Anthony Watmough, the decorated Queensland halfback collided with fellow Maroon Ashley Harrison and was knocked to the ground.

Rolling around in pain, the famous headgear quickly came off, and the Queenslanders at Suncorp Stadium knew it was bad.

Taken off in the buggy to the cheers of the crowd, the close-up of JT’s face spoke of pain and the end of the season for the Cowboys co-captain.

On the slow-motion replay, the horrendous accident made even the most hardened men squirm.

Initially the detrimental nature of the injury looked to rule JT out of the season, with first fears being that he’d endured a torn anterior cruciate ligament that would have required reconstructive surgery.

After more extensive examinations by the Queensland medics, there looked to be hope last night that Thurston more likely suffered a grade-two medial ligament tear igniting optimism in the North Queensland club.

“Our medical staff are saying that it’s a media, grade two,” Queensland coach Mal Meninga said last night.

“I guess he’s got to go and have some scans.

“If that’s the case, he’s only out for four to six weeks.”

JT made it back out onto the field at the end of the Origin series, albeit in a wheelchair taking regular sucks on his painkilling inhaler, to help celebrate and recognise the fairytale finish to farewelling captain Darren Lockyer.

Thurston’s Cowboys co-skipper Matt Scott, one of the standouts of this year’s Origin series with his big runs up the middle, remains hopeful that JT will be back for the finals with the full extent of the injury to be learned today.

“It’s always hard to see a teammate get injured, especially him,” Scott said.

“He’s such an important part of our team.

“We can only just hope, for his sake, that it’s not too bad.”

With 15 wins during the NRL Telstra Premiership series so far this year, the Cowboys are sitting fourth on the Ladder behind Melbourne Storm, the Sea Eagles and St George Illawarra.

But with the Broncos and Knights hot on their heels, it could be out of the top four and possibly even the top six by the end of Round 18.

Brisbane have a bye and an automatic two points this week, while the Cowboys have a top-of-the-table clash with the Knights at Newcastle’s Ausgrid Stadium on Monday night.

Scott said this was not a time to panic, but a time for the rest of the Cowboys squad to pull together and ensure there was a finals berth for JT to return to should he be fit in time.

“Luckily enough the team’s in a pretty good position now,” he said.

“If we can do well without him for a few weeks hopefully he’ll be coming back at the right end of the year.

“He will be such a big boost coming back into the side at the back half of the year.”

Scott spoke with Thurston after last night’s game, the courageous Cowboy optimistic that Thursday’s test results would allay the worst-case scenario.

“He’s in pretty good spirits,” Scott said.

“He’s really good with his rehab, he’s a quick healer, so hopefully it’s best-case scenario.”

The win hands the Maroons their sixth straight origin series victory, and cements Lockyer’s place as one of the true origin greats.

Lockyer leaves the origin arena as the most capped origin player with 36.

“What a ride,” said Lockyer following the match.

“I’ve never been so nervous before a game. It’s such a great feeling and a great relief.

“These guys have been fantastic. I had a great time and it’s a nice way to finish.

“It has been a great journey. To the Queensland people, it’s been a privilege to play for you. I hope you enjoyed that.”

And enjoy it they did.

The Maroons were on the front foot early and after a glut of early possession Greg Inglis opened the scoring with a spectacular try in the corner. Sam Thaiday then found himself scoring thanks to a sublime inside pass from Billy Slater.

All through the week the Blues had put an emphasis on not giving Queensland a head start, however after just 25 minutes they were looking down the barrel 12-0 deficit.

In the first two games of the series the Blues had been able to work their way back into the match after conceding early points, but after Cameron Smith barged over from dummy half the match was as good as over.

When Anthony Minichello knocked and handed Jharal Yow Yeh a try, it looked like it could get embarrassing. But to the Blues credit they kept on trying and two quick tries before the break reduced the deficit to 14 points.

The second half started as an arm wrestle and the Blues were working their way back into the contest, but when Billy Slater finished off a vintage Maroons set play the series was in safe keeping.

Greg Inglis scored in the 69^th minute to equal the state of origin try scoring record held by Dale Shearer and the Queensland crowd went into raptures.

New South Wales added some respectability to the score line with two tries in the last ten minutes, including an eight point try to Jarryd Hayne, but the damage had been done.

Following the match, Mal Meninga, who joins Phil Gould as the most successful coach in origin history, paid tribute to his players.

“What a great moment, that’s the way greats should retire,” Meninga said.

“Darren’s a happy man and I’m happy for him. It’s a magnificent team. Words can’t describe it.

“New South Wales are a dangerous side and they came back at us like we knew they would and we just did enough to win the series.”

Following the match Blues coach Ricky Stuart said that he was hopeful that NSW would soon break Queensland’s amazing run.

“This team has found a way to beat Queensland,” Stuart said.

“We rattled their cage, but they bounced back extremely well. They came out and they played better than us, and they deserve the credit. These boys have done some monumental things in regard to state of origin for NSW.

“It’s been difficult over the last four or five years, it’s been real hard. But we had Queensland nervous. I’m not trying to discredit what they’ve done. But at the start of the series we were in five-dot and they were dominant. I think these boys have pulled back a lot of respect for their state. I think they’ve done an enormous job through their energy and attitude for origin football and NSW.”

Blues skipper Paul Gallen said that while the Blues would be better next year for the experience, it didn’t take away from the fact that they were staring at their sixth straight series loss.

“It’s pretty shattering,” Gallen said.

“We came here really confident but we learned what origin football was about again. We thought we had a good chance but we gave them a head start and they got too far in front.

“We knew we could come back but a few calls went against us and we didn’t respond to it.

“In the end they deserved to win by more than ten points.”

The only down side for the Maroons was a sickening knee injury suffered by Johnathan Thurston in the second half.

Thurston went down after a collision with team mate Ashley Harrison, and it was originally feared he had injured his ACL, which would have ruled him out for up to a year.

However after the game Maroons officials were confident that the injury was not as severe as originally thought.

“Our medical staff are saying it’s a medial, grade two. If that’s the case, he’s only out for 4-6 weeks,” said Queensland coach Mal Meninga.

Thurston is the only player to have played every game in Queensland’s six consecutive series wins. In fact, with 21 straight origin matches under his belt, Thurston is closing in on Gary Larson’s record of 24 straight origins.

Cameron Smith capped of an excellent series by being named both man of the match and man of the series.

Michael Jennings, Kurt Gidley, Beau Scott and Ben Creagh all went into New South Wales camp under slight injury clouds, however as the week has progressed all have proven their fitness, and barring any last minute mishaps should all be in the final 17.

The main point of contention at the moment seems to be which forward Ricky Stuart pick on the interchange bench. As it stands Stuart has two options. He can bring in another front row forward in the form of Keith Galloway or he can continue with his trend of picking mobile forward packs and go with Manly’s Glen Stewart.

Well we may have been given a clue by Blues legend and current props coach Glenn Lazarus.

Lazarus, who played 19 matches for the Blues, may have let it slip that Galloway will get the nod.

“Keith Galloway is a very good player and I’m sure he will do a wonderful job on Wednesday,” Lazarus said.

“There is still a spot for big guys, it just depends on how good you are. People have got short memories. In game one Civoniceva and Scott were a big reason why they went on to win the game.

“We’ve got Timmy Mannah and Gal showed how he can handle the front row or go forward role in origin. We’re very confident that all the players will do a great job.”

Lazarus also said that Penrith flyer Michael Jennings was ‘absolutely’ right to play after overcoming a hamstring problem.

“He’s trained extremely hard. While the boys were finishing their training session on Monday he was over the other side of the field doing some fairly vigorous running.”

Lazarus also came to the defence of NSW coach Ricky Stuart after QRL chief Ross Livermore claimed the Blues coach was ‘not acting within the spirit of the game’ after electing to withhold the make up of his final 17.

“He doesn’t mind getting under the Queenslander’s skin and I think that is exactly what he has done,” said Lazarus.

In another pointer that the Blues may opt for Keith Galloway, Ricky Stuart has said that it is unlikely that skipper Paul Gallen will be asked to play 80 minutes in the front row in the origin decider.

“You try and visualise a roster for your interchange and I predict he will play 60-65 minutes,” Stuart said.

“I don’t think anyone could have predicted he’d play 80 in the last game which is why we all spoke about so much after.

“In today’s modern era, playing front row and playing 80 at that level was quite a significant achievement. But I believe he will get targeted a fair bit in the early patches of play.”

Ricky Stuart has confirmed that he has settled on a 17 man squad, but he has no intention of sharing it with the rest of us.

“I’ve known that – or close to it – for the past two or three days now,” Stuart said.

“There’s been no trick shots, but we’ve had such disruptions in terms of injury, players being unable to train, players that couldn’t train up until the Sunday session.

“You have to have confidence in the balance of the team where you’re putting players in positions.

“But we’re sweet now. I am happy with the preparation. We’ve had some real quality sessions.”

However one part of the preparation didn’t go as smoothly as Stuart would have liked.

The Blues were planning on having a closed training session at Ballymore, however when they arrived they were greeted by a throng of media who were there to interview Queensland Reds Skipper James Horwill.

Following the mix up Horwill tweeted: “Had a media session this morning and just as it started the NSW origin side turns up for their ‘secret session’! Journos were pumped. NSW not so much.”

On Wednesday, Maroon’s skipper and long-serving Broncos champ Lockyer will play the final State of Origin game of his decorated career and while the Suncorp Stadium decider will be played in front of a sell-out crowd there for his farewell, there have been plenty of rumours suggesting Civoniceva too will be donning the Queensland jersey for the final time.

With relentless recent speculation on the 35-year-old’s playing future, Civoniceva is being tipped to bow out of Origin in the same style as the immortal Maroon Wally Lewis, who announced his retirement from Origin just minutes before his 1991 farewell.

But Civoniceva said he is tiering of the retirement rumours and that he wasn’t giving away his rep footy career just yet.

“I am sick of them (the rumours), to be honest,” Civoniceva said on Monday from the Maroons camp at Coolum.

Current captain of the Penrith Panthers, prop forward Civoniceva holds the record for having appeared in the most international matches for any Aussie forward in history, and is a former Broncos player having spent many years on the field with Locky at club level as well as in the Origin and Test arenas.

Pulling on the Maroon No. 10 on Wednesday night, Petero will play his 30^th game for Queensland in possibly the most sensational State of Origin showdown in history, Queensland vying for a record sixth straight series win.

Civoniceva said any retirement plans from Origin were all just conjecture.

“I said from the start of the season it would depend on how the body was holding up,” he said.

“For me the fire in the belly is still there.

“Maybe at 30 I thought the fire may have been extinguished by now, but I still feel I want to be a part of this and there’s still no better feeling than being in an Origin camp.

“I know the finish-line is fast approaching.

“But if the signs were there that my knee was going or the back was playing up, I’d have to make a call.

“But at the moment everything is OK.”

Putting in a performance of a man 10 years his junior, big Petero was one of the instrumental forces and stand-out players in the opening State of Origin game this year when Queensland enjoyed a 16 -12 win over New South Wales in May.

For the second State v State showdown, Civoniceva was a little quieter, but then again, so were all the Queenslanders visiting Sydney as the Maroons lost to a determined Blues outfit 18 – 8 in Game II, which set up Wednesday’s highly-spruiked finale.

“We were all disappointed (with the Game 2 loss) but as a pack we didn’t stamp our authority like we did in game one,” Civoniceva said.

“I guess that was down to a really grinding start.

“I think what we’re best at is playing explosive footy.”

Although the fire and desire is still burning for Civoniceva, the ageing warhorse didn’t extinguish retirement rumours completely admitting that if he continued to play next season he may not be good enough for selection in the 2012 State of Origin Queensland squad.

“It’s crossed my mind and it’s a risk I have to take, I’m aware of that,” he said.

“Sometimes selectors have to build a team for the future so if I’m not there, I’ve been very lucky with the experiences I’ve had playing rep football.

“I’ve been very blessed by the opportunities rep football has given me.

“If it ends because I don’t get selected, that’s life, you just get on with it.

“There’s a lot of improvement in this team, especially on our last performance.

“The thing in the back of our minds is we’ve got to find that improvement if we’re going to send Locky away the way he deserves.”

Although the Ricky Stuart-coached Blues have given Queensland every reason to be worried ahead of Wednesday night, Civoniceva said that on home turf the boys weren’t concerned that Locky wouldn’t be farewelled with a fairy tale result.

“There’s no fear there, what happens, happens,” he said.

“Our preparations and focus have been really good and that’s what Locky has wanted right from the start of the series and if we do that we have a chance of getting the result we want.”

There are also fears for the future of the Queensland Origin club if Civoniceva joins Lockyer in retirement at the end of this series, the Canetoads losing their two most-capped players.

If this does eventuate, Civoniceva tipped Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston ‘JT’ as the man to step up and take on more responsibility.

“We’ve seen JT take on a lot more of a leadership role recently but obviously it’s going to be a huge loss when Locky retires,” he said.

“To have players of the calibre of JT and obviously Cameron Smith (likely to fill the boots as Queensland captain in Lockyer’s absence), those two guys are going to be the cornerstone and leaders of this Queensland team for years to come.”

Merrin, 21, played a total of 37 minutes in the first two origin games, however the young prop is taking the positives from his origin experience.

“Being so young and playing origin, playing two games at 21, I took a lot out of it and I think I’ve got a few years ahead of me and hopefully I’m just going to build on that,” Merrin said.

“I’ll do anything for the team and if this is what they want to do then so be it, I’ll back them 100 per cent.

“I’m just so thankful for being in the team and having the opportunity. I didn’t think I’d get to that stage so young and so early so I just took all the positives out of it.”

Merrin said that he axing was not a complete shock, given the herculean effort of Paul Gallen in game two.

After initially naming a 20 man squad to cover for players under injury clouds the Blues team is now taking shape.

Ben Creagh, Beau Scott, Kurt Gidley and Jamie Soward were all under injury clouds when the squad was named, however NSW team doctor Martin Raftery said that all were fit to play and the decision was now in the hands of coach Ricky Stuart.

Centre Michael Jennings was the biggest injury concern coming into camp, however he also seems likely to be fit.

“When he came into camp, I was pleasantly surprised with where he was at and he progressed rapidly,” said Raftery.

“Someone said he was a quick healer, which a lot of these elite guys are, and he is good now – so it is a coaching decision now.”

Stuart is sure to be alarmed by Jennings’ lack of match fitness, however the Penrith centre was named players’ player after game one, and he is also the only specialist left sided centre in the squad.

If Jennings does not play, Jarryd Hayne will move into the centres and Brett Morris will come onto the wing.

The only other area of contention is whether the last remaining spot on the bench will go to Tiger’s prop Keith Galloway or Manly back rower Glenn Stewart.

If the Blues opt for Stewart they will have just one specialist front rower in the side (Tim Mannah) and seven back rowers.

However the Blue’s decision to use a mobile forward pack paid dividends in game two, and it is believed that Stuart is leaning in favour of playing the Manly back rower in an attempt to further stretch Queensland around the edge of the ruck.

Transplanted back rower Paul Gallen played 80 minutes in the front row in game two, meaning Ricky Stuart only had to rotate one prop.

Never before has an origin line up been held back so long, leading Queensland Rugby League managing director Ross Livermore to claim that Ricky Stuart is not acting within the spirit of the game.

“They’d be fining the clubs if they started this caper. Ricky must be pulling the strings,” Livermore said.

“You’re supposed to name your top 17 and then have your reserves. And you’ve got to have every intention of playing your top 17.

“We could have done the same thing if we wanted to…it’s against the spirit of the game.”

However ARL CEO Geoff Carr said that Stuart was acting within the rules.

“There’s no rule, so if he wants to delay that because he’s worried about injuries then that’s his prerogative,” Carr said.

“He’s named a one to 20 and they’re all going to run out in the jumpers they’re going to be in. that’s the only stipulation – that you’ve got to have the numbers for the programme.”

As it stands, Hayne and Morris have been named in the official programme, however Jennings (who is listed as no. 19) is considered more than likely to start. Merrin was named in jumper 15, however he will be replaced by either Stewart (no. 18) or Galloway (no.20).

Likely NSW Team for Origin Three

1. Anthony Minnichello

3. Jarryd Hayne.

19. Michael Jennings

4. Mark Gasnier

5. Akuila Uate

6. Jamie Soward

7. Mitchell Pearce

8. Paul Gallen (Captain)

9. Michael Ennis

10. Tim Mannah

11. Beau Scott

12. Ben Creagh

13. Greg Bird.

Interchange.

14. Kurt Gidley

16. Anthony Watmough

17. Luke Lewis

18. Glenn Stewart /20. Keith Galloway (One to be omitted)

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.”

Vying for an unprecedented sixth successive Origin series win on July 6 at Suncrop Stadium, the all-powerful Queensland Canetoads could be without one of their key players for the Darren Lockyer Origin farewell clash.

It has been a fairytale season for the young Brisbane star Yow Yeh who made both his Australian International and Queensland Origin debuts this year.

Donning the mighty Maroons jersey for the first time in the opening State of Origin game last month, Yow Yeh made an instant impression scoring one of Queensland’s treble of tries that saw them beat the Blues 16 – 12.

He was also there in Game II for the Maroons upset loss to a determined Blues outfit 18 – 8, which has set up the monumental decider in the third and final State v State, Mate v Mate battle.

Having been named as part of Queensland’s 18-man Game 3 squad on Tuesday, there are growing doubts that Yow Yeh will be fit enough for the testing tournament.

Yow Yeh came down with tonsillitis at the start of last week, and since then has lost six kilos.

“We call him James now, he’s Jharal’s little brother,” Meninga said in regards to the big weight loss suffered by the Indigenous All Star.

The illness saw Yow Yeh stay in Brisbane for Round 17, unable to travel to Perth where the Broncos eventually went down 16 – 12 to the Rabbitohs in a mud-bath of a match.

Now there are further concerns, as expressed from Meninga, that Yow Yeh will be ruled out of the State of Origin Game 3 decider.

“Jharal has got to be careful,” Mengina said.

“We’ll see how he travels.”

Queensland medic Dr Roy Saunders has told Yow Yeh he must do everything he can to regain his illness-lost weight and get back up to his ideal playing mass of 96kg before being cleared.

“I’ve talked to the doc and he told me to eat as much food as I can and get my weight back up,” Yow Yeh said.

“I’ve just got to take training a bit easy this week because I haven’t done anything; I haven’t moved.

“It took me a while to get my weight up in the off-season and after all that hard work, to lose it all in a week, was a bit annoying.”

Known for his attacking prowess down the side of the field, Yow Yeh’s speed and acrobatic ability to score fast and oftentimes freakish tries make him one of the best in the business.

“I might be quicker being 6kg lighter, but I might get smashed more as well,” he said.

Menigna named an extended five-man bench in his Queensland Game III squad, with Melbourne centre Dane Nielsen tipped to be pushed out of the line-up and made the 18^th man with the return of Justin Hodges.

With Yow Yeh in doubt, however, there is now a chance that Nielsen will be the one to fill his spot as the Queensland No. 5.

“I’m not sure what’s happening with Dane,” Yow Yeh commented.

“Obviously it’s up to Mal whoever is in the side.”

Meninga confirmed that Nielsen was being considered for the job.

“We don’t know how this week is going to pan out,” he said.

“Dane might get his opportunity.”

Yow Yeh was not as impressive for the second State of Origin showdown and is reportedly desperate to atone for his defensive calamities from that match which saw New South Welshmen Will Hopoate and Luke Lewis score tries down his side of the field and that came under fire from Meninga.

“I’ve worked hard on those things to make sure I make the decisions that have to be made at the time,” Yow Yeh said.

“All the boys and Mal have faith in me and that’s why I’m in the team.

“This will be the biggest game of my career and hopefully there will be a lot more like it because I know I’m going to go out there and enjoy the Queensland crowd.

“A lot of things are going to be riding on this game.

“It’s going to be like a blur.”