KURT Gidley's prospects of being chosen as NSW Origin fullback and captain soared yesterday when Manly's Brett Stewart was ruled out for at least two months with a knee injury.
Stewart will have surgery this week after damaging his knee in Saturday's win against South Sydney. He is facing a recovery period of eight to 12 weeks.
In his absence, Gidley is poised to complete a remarkable Novocastrian trifecta by succeeding former teammates Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus as Blues skipper.
Gidley would appear a NSW certainty, but his captaincy hopes hinged largely on whether selectors chose him in their starting line-up or named him on the bench as an interchange handyman.
Stewart's dazzling form since his belated start to the season, after a much-publicised suspension, could potentially have cost Gidley a spot in the Blues' run-on side, unless selectors gambled on choosing the Novocastrian as either halfback or five-eighth.
But with his main rival confined to the sidelines, Newcastle's skipper was the only other recognised custodian named yesterday in a preliminary 40-man NSW squad, which also included Knights teammates Ben Cross, Jarrod Mullen and James McManus.
Gidley said yesterday that he would not "wish an injury on anyone especially one of my mates" but not surprisingly agreed he would rather start a match on the field than on the bench.
"I've played a few games on the bench for NSW and I seem to burn more energy than when I'm out there playing," he said.
"To start that third game last year, I felt more comfortable than coming off the bench."
Asked about his prospects of leading NSW in the Origin series, which kicks off on June 3, the Dally M medal co-leader said it was a "huge honour to be even thought of" but was not getting his hopes too high.
"I'm not going to get too caught up in that at the moment, because there is still plenty of footy to be played before it's chosen," he said. "Hopefully we can keep winning games for Newcastle and I'm not the only Knights player chosen."
The main other contender for the NSW captaincy appears to be Cronulla enforcer Paul Gallen, although the Sharks' dismal start to the season is unlikely to have enhanced his claims.
Gallen also played 59, 55 and 64 minutes in last year's three Origin games, so the likelihood of Gidley being on the field for the full 80 minutes could sway the decision in his favour.
Former Newcastle and NSW playmaker Matthew Johns yesterday rated Gidley "a dead-set cert" to be named as NSW captain.
"People might say this is a biased Newcastle opinion, but it's not," Johns said.
"I think Kurt just typifies the type of football NSW need to play to win the series.
"He's a great leader and he's a bloke that people will want to play alongside. I just see him as the obvious choice."
Johns felt Gidley would have been captain even if Stewart had been fit and chosen as NSW fullback.
"I'm of the opinion that although Kurt is an ideal bench player, every minute he's off the field is wasted," Johns said.
"So he's got to be in the starting line-up for that reason. And the other reason he has to be in the starting line-up somewhere is because he's got to be captain."
Johns's fellow Channel Nine commentator, Herald columnist Peter Sterling said the captaincy was a "two-horse race" between Gidley and Gallen.
"I'd imagine that Kurt would get the No.1 jersey now, so he'll be out there for the full 80 minutes, which is important, and he plays such an involved role," Sterling said.
"I'd say the bookmakers would be winding in the odds rapidly of him having the 'c' next to his name when the series starts."
NEXT IN LINE
ANDREW JOHNS 23 Origins, 6 as captain (2002-03)
DANNY BUDERUS 21 Origins, 15 as captain (2004-08)
KURT GIDLEY 4 Origins, 0 as captain
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