Newest Blues baby had Prior Origin plans

NSW bolter Matt Prior planned to spend the representative round with his newborn baby before being called into the Blues squad for State of Origin II.

Matt Prior

Matt Prior is enjoying his sudden change of plans after being drafted into the NSW Origin squad. (AAP)

He's the latest Blues baby who planned to be changing nappies on Sunday.

Instead Cronulla prop Matt Prior will be preparing for a new experience of another kind after being a shock call-up to the NSW squad for State of Origin II.

"I'd only just recently had my first child so I didn't really have any plans, to be honest. I was just going to spend some time with my partner and my little girl Indie," Prior said.

Despite his sudden change of plans, Prior has declared himself ready to help NSW wrap up the Origin series if called upon to make his debut.

The 31-year-old is in a two-way fight with Gold Coast forward Ryan James to replace injured front-rower Reagan Campbell-Gillard, who broke his jaw playing for Penrith on Friday.

He said coach Brad Fittler had given little away in deciding who fills the spot.

"He hasn't said a lot in terms of position whether I'm playing. Obviously I'm in the squad, and there's obviously a couple of other guys that are in the same boat as me," Prior said.

"I'm not too sure where he wants me but I'll do my best at training and go from there."

A two-time premiership-winner across stints at St George Illawarra and the Sharks, Prior was stunned to hear of his selection from club boss Barry Russell on Saturday night.

Russell broke the news to him after the Sharks' loss to Brisbane.

"I was just walking off the field and the CEO pulled me aside and said, 'Look mate, you've made it'. I was taken aback for a few seconds and I couldn't really believe it," he said.

"It took five-ten seconds to actually sink in.

"I wasn't even thinking about it at all to be honest. I hadn't really heard any whispers, hadn't heard any mentions of my name or anything like that to make me think anything of it.

"I've just been playing my footy and doing my best."


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world