LIVE: Stars’ final push to prove Origin fitness

The final two matches of round 12 of the NRL season will prove as fitness tests for two of the biggest Blues stars.

When the Bulldogs host the Titans, it will be Josh Addo-Carr’s first and only chance to prove his fitness to Blues coach Brad Fittler before the squad is named tonight.

Coincidentally, it will come at Accor Stadium – the ground he first suffered that syndesmosis injury back on Good Friday against South Sydney.

Blues legend Andrew Johns said while Foxx may publicly say this afternoon his focus is the Bulldogs, the reality will be the opposite.

“[Origin] won’t be at the back of his mind – it’ll be at the front,” he said on Nine’s Immortal Behaviour podcast.

“Every minute of every day, and I don’t exaggerate that, he’d be thinking ‘how am I gonna get this leg right?'”.

While Addo-Carr only needs to prove his fitness to be included on the Blues wing, it’s a different story for Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic.

Turbo has been battling niggles throughout 2023, and has been burned in defence on several occasions in the past weeks.

He is competing for a spot in the centres opposite Latrell Mitchell. Souths’ Campbell Graham would be the likely pick should Turbo not make the cut.

“He’s going through a tough time, which every single player goes through at some stage in their career,” Fittler told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Fittler said he had a “firm idea who the team will be”, as long as the game doesn’t throw up any “curveballs”.

“I have loved watching our players the last few rounds. It hasn’t been easy for all of them. As I always say, the team is written in pencil until Sunday night,” he said.