NSW State of Origin coach Brad Fittler has revealed he was "nervous" when weighing up whether to pick veteran Storm forward Dale Finucane for the series-opener.
And while Fittler opted against Finucane for the first two games, in which the Blues wrapped up the series in comprehensive style, the NSW mentor says his fears have been allayed by the Melbourne workhorse taking his game "to another level".
Finucane joined the NSW squad as 20th man following the Blues series-opening 50-6 victory, before he was then hauled into the starting side for Origin III after Newcastle enforcer Daniel Saifiti was ruled out due to injury.
Finucane will run out for his fifth Origin match, and his first since the 2020 decider, as the Blues chase just their fourth series whitewash in history in Newcastle next Wednesday night.
A calf tear kept Finucane sidelined for the seven games leading up to the Storm's 2020 preliminary final against the Raiders, before an ankle tear meant he didn't play his first match of this season until Round Seven.
But the 211-match inspiration has surprised Fittler since getting back on the paddock this year.
"This year I was sort of nervous when we were talking about getting Dale back in the team, because he'd had a few injuries, he had a few injuries last year," Fittler said on 2GB's Wide World of Sports radio.
"But I've got to say, watching him play this year he's taken his game to another level. Even at his age he's passing the ball a bit more, he's looking even fitter if that's possible. I think that's just based on the fact he hasn't had an injury for a while."
Finucane will start in the front row with Parramatta wrecking ball Junior Paulo, although there's a strong chance he'll spend time in the second row during Fittler's use of bench forwards Payne Haas and Liam Martin in the middle.
Staring Finucane down in Queensland's front row will be Canberra weapon Josh Papalii and Storm machine Christian Welch.
"When we had him in our extended squad, I always knew that if he was our 19th or 20th best player then we've got a pretty good footy team," Fittler said.
"Now he's in the team and I can't wait to give him that moment in the game where you tell him it's time to stand up and get on the field.
"He loves playing for NSW, he always talks about where he's from and he's a bloke who's worked incredibly hard to get to where he is."
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