NSW forward Tyson Frizell admits he will need the aid of a painkilling injection to numb the pain of a rib injury during next week's State of Origin blockbuster in Sydney.
Frizell picked up a rib cartilage issue in St George Illawarra's NRL win over the Wests Tigers last week but opted to back up and battle through the pain barrier in Sunday's loss to Canterbury.
Frizell revealed a needle failed to reduce the discomfort during Sunday's captain's run, but a second injection kicked in on the morning of the match at ANZ Stadium.
"It didn't work yesterday. I had a jab yesterday and it didn't really work, but it kind of hit the spot I think today," Frizell said after the match.
Asked if he would require another dose for Origin II, Frizell said: "Yeah."
He also admitted he failed to participate in contact sessions in the lead-up to the match, but is hopeful of taking part in the entire preparation for the Blues.
A win for NSW next Wednesday would give them just their second series win in 12 years.
Frizell bravely punched out 88 metres, 28 tackles and two offloads before exiting on the hour-mark on Sunday, and said he could've played on if asked by coach Paul McGregor.
Asked how he pulled up after the match, he said: "Pretty good, to be honest.
"It was a tough game on the body, but the body pulled up well. My role in the team's a bit different now - I play a bit more time in the middle at stages there.
"I don't play as many minutes but I try and go off as long as I want and if Mary needs me to go back on at the back end, he'll do that. But he didn't feel like he needed to do that this week."
He conceded he was close to pulling out of the Bulldogs match.
"I hadn't done any contact or anything through the whole week. They left it up to me, whether I felt like I was right to play. I'd say I'd be pretty sore tomorrow," he said.
Share
