Queensland's preparations for Origin II next Wednesday night have hit another hurdle with a stomach bug preventing four players from participating in Friday's training session at Sanctuary Cove and Dane Gagai's quad injury an ongoing concern.
Matt Scott, Corey Oates and Aidan Guerra all looked lethargic as they completed only minimal aspects of the session before leaving early while Jacob Lillyman was so ill that he was kept to the confines of his hotel room.
Gagai's contribution was restricted to a mix of squats and lunges away from the main playing group for a second straight day but he will be expected to train on Sunday if he is to take his place in the Maroons team for Game Two at Suncorp Stadium.
Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt has been in camp training on the right wing since Thursday and again filled in for Gagai as the Maroons ran an opposed session against the Queensland under-18 team on Friday afternoon.
Feldt was believed to have been in line for the Game One team before a horror night under the high ball against Brisbane days before Kevin Walters named his team cruelled his chances, North Queensland teammate Michael Morgan confident there are no lasting scars.
"He is in a confident frame of mind at the moment," Morgan said of Feldt.
"I think he showed in the last couple of weeks, that try he scored against the Dragons when he jumped high and caught the ball like an AFL player, I think that is a sign that he's still got the confidence there.
"He's only 23 and not even played 50 games of first grade so for him to be here and experiencing this at the moment this early in his career is really good.
"In a way he can take all of this as a confidence thing and be confident and happy about the fact that he's in this environment and he's that close."
While Feldt's expectation may be that his role as an understudy to Gagai will be just that, Morgan believes he would handle a late call-up to make his Origin debut.
"If that happens I'm sure he'll be fine," said Morgan, who played only 20 minutes in Game One after suffering a heavy head knock.
"I'm sure he was disappointed about Game One and that he didn't get to play and now being here I'm sure it will make him want to play even more.
"From my experience that's what happened with me, Game One last year I got the opportunity to play and all it did was make me want to play even more again.
"I'm sure that just being here and being part of it and being so close I'm sure if he got the chance that's all he's going to want and he'll go out and do his best.
"He would be [preparing to play] at the moment. In his own mind that is the best thing for him to do, to get ready that way but I was talking to him yesterday and he wasn't expecting to play.
"He seems to be enjoying the week and it's a great experience for him, the fact that he gets to train in his normal position for the team, I'm sure he'll learn a lot from it."
As for any possible disruption with Gagai still unable to train Morgan said it paled in comparison to the doubt surrounding halfback Cooper Cronk leading into Game One.
"I think [Dane] is pretty confident in it so we'll see on Sunday," said Morgan.
"It's obviously not as big a disruption as what 'Coops' was, being out on the wing, but I don't think it bothers the players too much to be honest."
