Steve Price virus may hit Queensland

Queensland will face a front-row crisis in Wednesday night’s third State of Origin clash if veteran prop Steve Price fails to recover from the virus which flattened him on Sunday.

The Maroons are already down two props with forward leader Petero Civoniceva (toe) and back-up Ben Hannant (knee) both out injured and makeshift front-rower Nate Myles serving a six week suspension.

Adding to the their dramas was the appearance of forward Sam Thaiday training in a knee guard at Skilled Park during an opposed session with the Queensland Residents side after he hurt his right knee in a closed session on the Gold Coast earlier in the day.

Price was immediately isolated from teammates and placed on a course of antibiotics.

He remained at the team’s hotel at Sanctuary Cove on Sunday afternoon and is expected to be kept away from teammates on Monday.

Queensland team doctor Roy Saunders said he expected Price would be fully recovered in time to play on Wednesday night, when with Queensland will shoot for their first series clean-sweep in 15 years.

“Pricey has got a flu-like illness and he’s feeling pretty flat,” said Saunders.

“He’s got some aches and pains and a bit of a temperature and we wouldn’t let him train.

“He felt really flat and tired this morning.

“When Pricey says he’s feeling flat and tired, he’s feeling flat and tired.

“The players have a day off tomorrow and we anticipate he’ll be pretty much recovered by Tuesday.”

Saunders said Price would not be tested for swine flu.

He said the virus was not the same as the one which swept through the Queensland camp on the eve of the second Origin in Sydney late last month and almost stopped lock Dallas Johnson from playing and also left Myles feeling ill before and after the game.

The news was better for utility Karmichael Hunt, who Saunders said was certain to play after doing “all that has been asked of him”.

Hunt has completed Queensland’s last two sessions and looks fully recovered from the ankle injury which has plagued him for a month.

Centre Greg Inglis said Hunt had shown is value coming off the bench to replace Justin Hodges in game one and himself in the second game.

“K’s been great,” said Inglis.

“He’s one of those utility players who can come in the second-row, fullback and in the halves as well, as he’s shown in the past.

“Having K there gives us the security that he can fill those spots.”

Inglis didn’t rule out switching positions with right winger Willie Tonga during the game.

“We don’t know yet. He does play left centre for his club so we’ll have a talk about it amongst ourselves and see if he wants to go in there and get his hands on the ball and I’ll be happy to go on the wing and have a spell.

“There’s a chance we will swap around.”

Queensland got a big lift this weekend with Civoniceva joining them in camp and the surprise appearance at training of former Maroon Dale Shearer, who a few months ago was in hospital fighting for his life after being seriously injured in a high speed car crash north of Brisbane.

Shearer, who played in the last Queensland team to win a series 3-0 under Paul Vautin in 1995, said he would attend Wednesday night’s game with his children.

Get Australia's best NRL opinion emailed daily.

Like this content? Buzz it up!

Free Email updates:

• Get a daily Rugby League email

Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...

© 2007 AAP