Good news for Blues as stars begin race for recall

Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards and Knights centre Bradman Best will be looking to make their way into the Blues side for Game Two after being named to return from injuries in Round 15 while Nicho Hynes is also back on deck. 

After a quad injury denied Edwards the chance to make his Origin debut in last week's series opener, the 28-year-old will be desperate to prove his fitness after being named in Penrith's Round 15 clash against the Knights.

The three-time Premiership winner was handed first shot at fullback by coach Michael Maguire, however was ruled out four days prior to the match with former Blues skipper James Tedesco called into replace the gun No. 1.

In another sigh of relief for Blues fans, Panthers teammate Liam Martin is a chance of making a comeback from an ankle injury that ruled him out of Sunday's victory over Manly after being included in the wider reserves.

Fellow Blues hopeful Best has also been named to return from a hamstring injury in the Sunday afternoon match with the 2023 NSW debutant well in contention after Joseph Suaalii was handed a four-match suspension for a Reckless High Tackle on Reece Walsh.

With Latrell Mitchell also a contender to fill the vacant centre position after his starring performance for South Sydney on Saturday, Best will have 80-minutes to prove he's the man to help keep the Blues' series alive before Maguire selects his side following the Sunday afternoon clash.

Meanwhile, after being rested from the Sharks' victory over the Broncos on Saturday, Hynes has been cleared to play the Dolphins on Thursday despite struggling with an ongoing calf injury.

The Cronulla star was given first crack at the No. 7 jersey for Game One but has found himself in a shootout with Mitch Moses for Game Two after the Eels star returned in fine form from a foot injury in Round 13. 

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon confirmed on Saturday that Hynes didn't reinjure his calf in Origin however wouldn't have got through the Round 14 fixture in Brisbane.

"He got through Origin ok, he got a big cramp at the end of the game which was probably a warning sign there but hasn't reinjured it," Fitzgibbon said post-match on Saturday.

"It would have been a dangerous game to put him out there, we knew he wouldn't have got through it (on Saturday) but with a five-day turnaround against the Dolphins, he'll be fine. 

"For us, anyone that gets a crack, it's such a good opportunity and they're fulfilling their dreams as rugby league players...you'd like to see him go again."

In another big boost for both New South Wales, Manly forward Haumole Olakau'atu has been named to start in Sunday's clash against the Dragons despite suffering a calf injury last week which restricted him to just 24 minutes. 

Maroons coach Billy Slater will also be relieved to see Game One debutant J'maine Hopgood named at No.13 for the Eels after interim coach Trent Barrett admitted he shouldn’t have played in Round 14 due to a nerve problem in his back.