State of Origin 2021: Covid-restricted Blues turn to chess board in build-up
A State of Origin game is often akin to a game of chess, so NSW coach Freddie Fittler and his players turning to the board game during their unorthodox build-up could yet prove decisive.
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This could be checkmate for Queensland.
In what is the most unorthodox build up to a game in State of Origin history, the Covid-restricted Blues have taken to playing tranquil chess to bond and relax ahead of Sunday night’s big game.
Locked away in a team bubble, NSW coach Brad Fittler and star players including Tom Trbojevic, Damien Cook, Isaah Yeo, James Tedesco, Liam Martin, Cameron Murray, Dale Finucane, Campbell Graham, Jack Wighton and Api Koroisau have played hours of chess in their team room on level 30 of Brisbane’s Sofitel Hotel.
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Trbojevic defeated Fittler in an intense battle on Friday night with players jumping straight back onto the boards again Saturday morning. Blues adviser, Greg Alexander, head of performance, Hayden Knowles, and performance analyst, Tom Lovell have also joined the Chess craze.
“I don’t play a lot of chess but I don’t mind the odd game. It’s nice and relaxing. The boys have enjoyed a few games in our hotel given the restrictions,” Trbojevic said.
There are several chess boards on level 30 with players enjoying an unusually soft preparation ahead of an Origin game where NSW could pinch their own checkmate over Queensland.
“They played all night and were into it again on Saturday morning,” said NSW adviser, Greg Alexander. “At the moment, we’re finding out who is good and who’s not, who does play and who doesn’t have a clue.
“Tommy is good. He beat Freddy on Friday. Tommy and Teddy have also played each other. Liam Martin is quite good. He just beat Api but they tell me their ongoing score is two-all. Isaah Yeo also played, the Penrith boys are into it.
“I think at this early stage Hayden Knowles would be the number one seed. He’s had five wins from five.”
The Blues are confined to their hotel through the Queensland Government’s strict Covid protocols. Players are only permitted to move from their rooms to the team room and the level three gym and pool, which is exclusive to the team.
Hotel management has allocated NSW players a dedicated elevator so players avoid contact with the public.
With its panoramic views of Brisbane, the level 30 team room is where players can play chess, table tennis and cards. It is also where they eat and receive medical treatment.
Thirteen players and staff who either live in — or have visited — any restricted Local Government Areas in Sydney underwent further Covid tests in Brisbane on Saturday morning.
That included the five Roosters and Souths players along with NSW and Roosters assistant coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
A doctor was called into the team hotel to carry out the tests. Members of Channel 9’s Origin coverage team also had tests.
NSW management is certain the Covid results will be rushed through and returned to players well before kick-off.
Players aren’t even allowed into the hotel foyer although the level three pool is outdoors, allowing them to take in some fresh air.
The team were ushered straight onto the team bus for Saturday afternoon’s captain’s run at Suncorp Stadium and then driven directly back to the hotel. It will be the same protocol for Sunday night’s match.
The Blues cancelled media commitments on Saturday due to Covid but Fittler conducted a zoom interview late afternoon.
NRL officials in Brisbane also had Covid tests on Saturday. Players were told they were confined to their hotel from midnight Friday.
Defiant Luai’s blunt message to critics
He’s been tagged arrogant, cocky and cheeky but Jarome Luai says he’s never going to change.
Luai, the free-spirited NSW five-eighth, claimed he “laughed off” criticism about his on-field attitude and would continue to be “authentic, grateful and happy”.
“Why change when it’s working,” he says ahead of Sunday night’s Game II of State of Origin.
And the star Panthers playmaker said changing his personality to suit others could “take a toll mentally”.
“I’m never going to change because it will affect the way you play. If you roll up into a shell and you’re not being yourself, it will take a toll on you mentally,” said Luai, 24.
“The boys want you to be authentic, want you to be yourself. Having ‘Bizza’ (Brian To’o) here, my best mate, we brought a bit of bubbly personality and brought our (music) speaker in with us.
“We’re pretty happy people so why change that? It’s definitely working for us down at Penrith.
“And that rubs off on the group as well. We are just being ourselves and I think we fit in all right.
Luai had to cope with criticism earlier this season about Penrith’s perceived arrogance.
“We laughed at it, to be honest. It didn’t bother us too much. It was a bit of outside noise,” he said.
“As a club at Penrith, we’re pretty good at blocking out that criticism. We know that criticism matters within our four walls.
“It wasn’t in our heads. We didn’t even talk about it as a team. We just said: ‘Why change when it’s working for us?’
“There are always going to be opinions out there – we just have to take into account the ones that matter.”
Luai showed his emotions in Origin I, being snapped in a now-infamous Origin photo standing over and roaring at a crestfallen Queensland forward, Felise Kaufusi.
“It has probably put a target on me and it will probably fire them up but nothing is going to change for me in terms of mentality,” Luai said.
Luai and To’o have quickly become the two liveliest Blues.
“I’m loving it, man. I never would have thought I’d be here. I’m so grateful to be part of this team and have definitely made some new brothers along the way,” he said.
“I was a little bit (nervous) before Game I but I’m loving it with the boys.”
THE PHOTO WHICH MAKES LUAI ORIGIN ENEMY NO. 1
Travis Meyn
Blues dynamo Jarome Luai has become public enemy No. 1, with Maroons star Cameron Munster sledging his five-eighth rival as Queensland seek revenge for the photo that sparked a new Origin villain.
Luai has come under fire at Camp Maroon after a photo emerged of the Blues No. 6 taunting Maroons forward Felise Kaufusi during NSW’s 50-6 thrashing of Queensland in Origin I a fortnight ago.
In the image, Luai appears to be standing over Kaufusi and getting stuck into him after the Queensland backrower was bulldozed by Blues prop Junior Paulo.
The incident hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Maroons, who are focused on levelling the series in Game Two at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday night.
Kaufusi doesn’t remember what Luai said to him during the exchange, but admitted he had “kept the receipts” ahead of the return bout.
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“I don’t think I need any more motivation than that thrashing we copped, but I’ve kept the receipts there (from that incident) and hopefully turn it around on Sunday,” he said.
“He plays with a lot of passion, that’s what Origin is all about. Hopefully I can flip the script there and get one over him.
“They’re on cloud nine at the moment and so they should be after that win. I don’t need any more motivation than that feeling everyone had after losing that game.”
Luai, 24, has gained a reputation for being one of the NRL’s more animated characters.
His Penrith Panthers team has been accused of being arrogant by rivals given the way Luai and his teammates can carry on at times during games.
The Maroons will be searching for redemption in Game Two following their worst ever defeat and the Luai incident has further fuelled their quest.
He was also snapped pointing and smiling at Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans.
Luai produced the goods in his Origin debut while Munster had a quiet night in his first game back from a foot injury.
Munster and Luai faced off in last year’s NRL grand final, won by Munster’s Melbourne Storm, and the Maroons No. 6 said he wasn’t fazed by Luai’s rise.
“He is probably the in-form five-eighth in the competition,” Munster said.
“At the end of the day, it doesn’t really faze me what he does. I’ve just got to make sure I play better.
“He got the best of me in Game One, that’s going to happen. Everyone is going to play better than you (at some time).
“You need to make sure you’re more consistent than them, that’s something I need to be better with.”
Munster was crowned player of the series last year after leading Queensland to a remarkable win in the Suncorp decider.
And he said he was more interested in winning NRL titles and Origin series than being known as the best five-eighth in the game.
“I just want to be myself,” he said.
“The accolades are all good. But at the end of the day, you can be the best six in the competition and not win grand finals.
“It’s good to have those accolades of being the best, but I’d rather win competitions and series.
“If that means I’ve got to be a bit of a different playmaker and not be the best, then I’m more than happy to do that.”
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