The new-look Blues right edge were introduced to the team’s attacking structures minus Jarryd Hayne after the NSW fullback sat out of the side’s first training session in Coffs Harbour on Wednesday.
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Only Hayne was an observer for the first NSW hit-out, nursing a thigh strain, as the session focused on making the new centre/wing combination of Josh Dugan and Will Hopoate settle into the team. Like they did before game one, halves Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds took the team through the pre-training video session before they hit the field for the first team in the lead-up to game two.
Blues back-rower Ryan Hoffman said Hopoate and Dugan had made an easy transition ahead of their returns to the Origin arena.
''We had some new players in some pretty key positions, so we wanted to make sure they knew their role and knew our players. So it was a nice easy session to get into and simplify what we wanted to achieve,'' Hoffman said.
''We're not talking about rookies here. These boys have played Origin before. They know what it takes. Different positions for them but as we have been saying, we have every confidence in them.''
While the Maroons are battling an injury crisis, it was a smooth opening for NSW with Luke Lewis overcoming a knee injury to train. Skipper Paul Gallen (neck) also completed the hour-long non-contract session. Queensland are sweating on the fitness of Hoffman’s clubmate Billy Slater and ex-Storm teammate Greg Inglis.
Hoffman has little doubt both will play on Wednesday night.
''They will be right, no doubt in my mind,'' Hoffman said. ''I have known those blokes for a long time and I know how hard they work on their recovery. I have every confidence in the world they will be playing.''
Hoffman said the Blues' focus was simple.
''We know ourselves our performance has to be better,'' Hoffman said. ''We're going to go out there and improve on what we did last game because we know the Queenslanders are going to improve.
''What I feel in the camp is a bunch of blokes wanting to do their role and do it well. That's all we're focusing on. Everybody is working hard individually on what they do because nobody wants to let the team down.''
The Blues have added Jack Wighton and Wade Graham to the training squad to give them Origin experience.
