LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The New South Wales Blues have received a significant boost ahead of the State of Origin opener, with superstar prop forward Payne Haas expected to start following scans that cleared him of a serious quad injury.
Blues coach Laurie Daley compared last weekend's injury chaos to "watching a Formula One race," as updates on Haas's condition emerged.
The 25-year-old injured his quad during a match against the Dragons, causing uncertainty about his availability for the upcoming game at Suncorp Stadium.
Haas, recognized as one of the best prop forwards in the modern era, has proven his capability in his 14 Origin appearances by consistently delivering high performance and substantial playtime.
Given his importance, his potential absence would have been a significant blow for the Blues.
Fortunately, Haas is set to fly to Sydney on Monday afternoon and participate in training with the team later this week in Leura.
In the event that Haas had been ruled out, Storm forward Stefano Utoikamanu was prepared to step into the 17-man squad, but the situation now appears promising for the Blues.