A doctor associated with New South Wales has revealed just how close Damien Cook was to missing the Bluesโ€™ Game II triumph over Queensland.

Cook played a starring role to level the series but in the days leading up, he had a worsening skin infection that looked as if it would need surgery.

Dr David Broe told the Sydney Morning Herald that it wasnโ€™t a pretty sight.

โ€œWhen I looked at him, the infection was spreading all through his skin and up to his groin region,โ€ he said.

โ€œInitially I thought he would need 24-36 hours in hospital on a drip. If he wasnโ€™t getting better in the morning, I was making a decision that day to take him to the operating theatre.โ€

The Blues managed to keep Cookโ€™s trip to the hospital under wraps, with coach Brad Fittler revealing what happened after the Bluesโ€™ Game II win.

Cook said that the worst case scenario was that surgery wouldโ€™ve ruled him out of Origin, but was amazed at his recovery.

โ€œI donโ€™t think (the doctor) really wanted me to play game two,โ€ he said.

โ€œHe was more talking game three, but our trainer said I had to be at captainโ€™s run. It was quite large at the time, it wasnโ€™t too common, but the antibiotics worked. I didnโ€™t want to miss it for that.โ€

New South Wales have already given Cook the go-ahead to travel up to Brisbane for next Wednesdayโ€™s Game III decider.

A win for the Blues up North would be the first time since 2005 a NSW team has won a decider in Brisbane.

โ€œWe can only go up there and play to the best of our ability.โ€ Cook said.

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