“We’re unsure how bad it is, but he won’t be any good for Wednesday with the short turnaround. He’s gone for scans.
“Luai’s played there before, he’s got a good combination with Nathan, he’s that left-side player, so he’ll do a fine job.
“He’s won four grand finals, and won the Origin series last year. Everyone will have a lot of confidence and faith in him.
“I don’t know Jarome that well, but he’d believe in himself, too, that he can come in and do the job at short notice.
“There will only be a couple of training sessions, but the fact he’s played with that [NSW] left edge last year is an advantage. It’s not like you’re bringing in someone who hasn’t been here before, or played with those players.
“We’re disappointed for Mitch, but excited for Jarome.”
Moses grabbed the ball and went to run down the short side and then he immediately clutched at his left calf. He pulled up with calf tightness after the 18-6 win in game one at Suncorp Stadium, but spent the remainder of the week on the massage table before taking the field for Parramatta.
NSW have the chance to seal the series with victory at Optus Stadium, and Daley said he would be disappointed if the Moses disruption, six days out from the game, would be used as an excuse.
The fact Burton and Luai were both available was a reminder of the tremendous depth in the NSW playing stocks right now.
Luai tried his heart out against Penrith on the weekend, and poleaxed his old halves partner Cleary on a couple of occasions. He will join the team in Leura on Thursday evening, with Daley joking “Jarome will be heard before he seen”, a reference to his boombox and taste of music that is completely different to the coach’s.
Winger Brian To’o was restricted to light duties on Thursday, with Canterbury’s Jacob Kiraz completing the session.
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Daley said the Blues woulds train again on Saturday at their Sydney Olympic Park base, and if for some reason To’o was not fit, Kiraz was likely to join the squad in the west.
Cleary and Luai have already combined as statistically the most successful halves combination in rugby league history as they delivered four-straight premierships at Penrith, while the Tigers star played five-eighth alongside Moses in last year’s series triumph.
In better news for the Blues, Stephen Crichton and Payne Haas, who both went into the opening game against Queensland with quad issues, have benefited from a full week of training this time around.
