NSW centre Stephen Crichton has described his call to sit out of the second State of Origin match as "the hardest decision I had to make".

But the sacrifice has helped the Canterbury captain re-enter camp for Wednesday's decider feeling the best he has since suffering his long-standing shoulder injury.

Usually a walk-up starter for the Blues, Crichton was named in the squad for the eventual 44-24 MCG thrashing, only to withdraw that same evening.

The 25-year-old had been troubled by an AC joint injury since the Bulldogs' loss to South Sydney on Good Friday, frequently requiring painkilling injections.

Crichton had lined up in the Blues' game-one victory, but still below his best ahead of Origin II, he feared he would have been a "liability" had he remained in camp.

"It was the hardest decision that I had to make," Crichton said.

"Just knowing that I couldn't train and couldn't get the repetition in with the boys and build that connection, I didn't want to be a liability.

"I knew, going back to Dogs, I could get that rest at the start of the week and do what I had to do."

Crichton has managed to remain afield with the improving Bulldogs in recent weeks, negotiating a surprise switch to five-eighth in that time.

He tested his shoulder out during the Blues' wrestling session at their Kingscliff camp on Wednesday and pulled up well from heavy contact with the other outside backs.

"This is probably the best I've felt as well, coming into camp," said Crichton.

He will need all the strength he can muster in the decider.

He will line up against Queensland's left edge, where strike weapons Kalyn Ponga, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Cameron Munster do their best attacking work.

"It's going to be a massive task for our right edge, but I'm very excited to walk towards the challenge," Crichton said.

The Blues held their first field session of camp on Thursday at Gold Coast's Cbus Super Stadium, lining up against local side Tweed Seagulls for some contact training.

Champion boxer Jai Opetaia was a spectator, with Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy and former NSW players Graham Eadie and Brent Kite also stopping by.

Much-discussed Canterbury halfback Lachlan Galvin is another guest of the Blues this week, selected among a handful of training players.

Crichton said the call-up was "100 per cent" a vindication for Galvin, who has been subject to scrutiny since his mid-season arrival last year coincided with a dip in the Bulldogs' form.

"He's been one of our best players this year, regardless of wins and losses at the 'Dogs. He truly deserves to be in and around the boys," he said.

Crichton was part of the NSW set-up in a similarly informal capacity in 2020 and 2021 before his own debut.

He tipped the experience to prepare Galvin for a possible representative future of his own.

"I know Lachie's going to take it with both arms and use it as an opportunity to not just get better physically, but mentally as well," Crichton said.

"I spoke to him this morning as well and he's loving it."

Australian Associated Press