Origin Daily, updates, Conor Watson, Paris Olympics, Rugby sevens Luke Keary injured, Joseph Suaalii, Harry Grant injury, will he play, Valentine Holmes, Bradman Best injury update

Blues utility Conor Watson has revealed he could’ve been starring in Paris, not Suncorp, had he chosen a different career path in his youth.

Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, the 28-year-old shared how the Australian rugby sevens side offered him a trial while he was still a teenager, with the possibility of representing his nation at an Olympics if all went well.

‘I’d spoken to the Aussie sevens. They were keen for me to come,” he said.

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Admitting the sevens side “essentially offered me a trial” Watson explained it was on the intervention of the Sydney Roosters that prevented him being lost to rugby league all together.

“I had an offer of multiple years with money and that from the Roosters, so it was sort of a no-brainer for me,” he said.

“This was when I was just finishing school – I think I had a three-year deal from the Roosters when I was 18 or 19.

“I’m glad how it’s all worked out.”

Born in Dubbo but raised on the New South Wales Central Coast, Watson attended Sydney’s prestigious Knox Grammar School on a rugby union scholarship.

During his time at school, the former Newcastle Knight was “not worrying about playing league.”

“I enjoyed playing rugby union,” he shared.

“But I just found it can be quite forward dominant; as a back you can sometimes get a cold out there.”

Searching for action, Watson ended up playing rugby league in the South Sydney competition, where he was spotted by the Roosters.

“I’d do that on Sundays, that’s how the Roosters saw me playing there,” he said.

“They wanted me to play SG Ball for them and the school was happy enough for me to do that. From playing SG Ball, I got contracted.”

Were it not for the Roosters’ intervention, Watson could’ve been lost to rugby league altogether.

“The prospect back then of going to the Olympics was quite appealing to me, that’s why I was considering going to sevens,” he said.

Thankfully for the state of New South Wales Watson opted to remain true to a childhood dream and pursue his rugby league career.

“I think just the security of (league) and growing up, all I wanted to do was play NRL since I was five years old,” he said.

BEST POSSIBLE NEWS FOR THE BLUES

In the most positive update since he entered Blues camp with a hamstring issue, centre Bradman Best got through Saturday’s New South Wales training session.

The Blues had an opposed session against the Mudgee Dragons and Best’s hamstring reportedly gave him no bother.

New South Wales coach Michael Maguire told The Daily Telegraphthat Best is “ready to go” for Wednesday’s decider.

Blues star Stephen Crichton says he’s expecting Best, who starred in his sole Origin start in Game III last year, to not miss a beat.

“You saw what he came in and did last game three. He is an absolute beast,” Crichton said.

“Both (Mitchell and Best) pose a massive threat but are different players.

“The more threats we have the more opportunities we will have as a team. He’s a game breaker and an x-factor.”

GREAT’S VERDICT OVER MADGE’S BRUTAL FORWARD CALL

Manly star and Origin rookie Haumole Olakau’atu would have a right to consider himself quite unlucky after being dropped from the New South Wales team for Game III, but has instead taken it in his stride.

In a testament to the person he is, Olakau’atu preferred to credit the man he was dropped for, Warriors forward Mitch Barnett, instead of airing his frustrations.

“I was obviously pretty disappointed but very happy to see Mitch Barnett have a go,” Olakau’atu told SEN.

“He’s a very good player and has a lot of energy, I believe he’s made for Origin.”

The Sea Eagles second rower hadn’t done anything wrong in Games I and II in limited action but Barnett gives the Blues versatility in that he can play lock, as an edge forward and in the middle as a prop.

That’s important given the Blues’ starting second row pairing of Liam Martin and Angus Crichton, who Olakau’atu labelled “two of the best second rowers in the game”, have been outstanding this series.

Speaking on SEN, Fox League’s Matty Johns believed the Barnett-Olakau’atu swap is the right move.

“I do feel for Haumole Olakau’atu,” Johns said.

“Madge just hasn’t quite worked out how to use him. He got him there as an edge back rower but you had Angus Crichton and Liam Martin who were rampaging so he just couldn’t get him on.

“I don’t think he expected his edge back rowers to be so dominant,” former NRL star Denan Kemp added.

“In the first game he had surplus with Young and Olakau’atu, second game it happened again and I reckon he thought ‘you know what, I need some dominance through the middle’”.

“My understanding is that Haumole is very understanding of the situation. He totally gets it.”

BLUES FORCED INTO LATE CHANGE AS SUAALII EYES RETURN TO NSW FOLD

Five-eighth Luke Keary has reportedly been ruled out of the NSW Blues’ Game III squad through injury, with an application being made to bring Joseph Sua’ali’i back into the fold.

According to various reports, Keary has left the state’s Blue Mountains camp with an unspecified injury and could be replaced by Roosters teammate Suaa’ali’i in Michael Maguire’s squad.

Despite Sua’ali’i’s return to the squad, Weidler reported Bulldogs half Matt Burton remains the first choice cover for Knights star Bradman Best, who has been under an injury cloud for the duration of the camp.

Keary has featured in the extended squad for each of the Blues’ three games this season, while Sua’ali’i was infamously sent off in the seventh minute of NSW’s Game I loss.

It remains unclear what injury Keary has suffered, and whether or not this will impact his club the Roosters, who have a bye in Round 19 but play the Melbourne Storm next round.

VAL’S BOLD PREDICTION

Under fire Queensland star Val Holmes is confident he and the Maroons will “be a different team” to the one that was blown of the park by the Blues in the first half of Game II.