Payne Haas did not participate in NSW’s first full training session on Wednesday as officials took a cautious approach with their star forward.
Haas is nursing a quad strain that he suffered in Brisbane’s loss to the Dragons on Sunday. The star front-rower watched on as his Blues teammates trained in the rain on the fields of the Blue Mountains Grammar School at Wentworth Falls on Wednesday morning. Stephen Crichton, who has been troubled by a groin strain, took part in the training session.
While the fields prepared for the Blues are kept in pristine condition, recent downpours made them wet and slippery underfoot. The Blues chose not to risk Haas so early in their preparation, and are likely to give him until the weekend, if required, to prove his fitness.
Haas cut a forlorn figure on the sidelines as Laurie Daley’s men were put through their paces. At times he conferred with Gilbert Enoka – the leadership management and mental skills coach for the All Blacks – who was part of last year’s Blues campaign under previous coach Michael Maguire.
NRL players Cody Ramsay, Adam Doueihi, Hamish Stewart and Jacob Preston were invited to participate in the session as extra bodies for some of the training drills.
Payne Haas watches Blues training from the sidelines at Wentworth Falls.Credit: Janie Barrett
The Blues remain confident Haas will be fit and available for the opening match at Suncorp Stadium. Storm forward Stefano Utoikamanu is part of the wider squad and on standby should Haas be ruled out.
More to come
