State of Origin 2021: Damien Cook out to prove doubters wrong in series opener
Blues hooker Damien Cook admitted feeling a bit of pressure before edging out Api Koroisau to retain his No.9 jumper and he’s determined to rise to the occasion in the series opener.
Opinion
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Damien Cook heard the whispers surrounding his NSW No.9 jersey. As the Panthers juggernaut rolled on Cook’s vice-like grip on the dummy half spot was slowly loosened as calls for Api Koroisau grew to make his debut.
It wasn’t the first time he has beaten out Koroisau for a starting spot but Cook has been picked for his 10th straight Origin.
“You always feel there is a bit pressure, you want to make these sides,” Cook said. “You should never think you own the jersey, you only rent the jersey when you’re selected.
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“I love wearing this jersey and it’s great to have another opportunity. Api has been playing great for Penrith. He has been playing great for a while now. I remember in 2018 when Freddy (Brad Fittler) took over it was himself along with Cam McInnes (competing for the spot).
“It’s been great to wear. I want to wear this for as long as I can and keep doing the job for the team. At the start of the year I thought I was playing good footy.”
Koroisau could still feature on Wednesday night after being picked as the Blues’ 18th man. While Koroisau was overlooked for a starting spot, the Panthers combination is in full swing with Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai selected in the halves and Isaah Yeo at lock.
Cook compared Luai’s style of play to that of South Sydney teammate Cody Walker.
“He has a lot of energy and adlib footy,” Cook said. “He is very exciting to be around.
“I feel like we can build a new combination there as well. I’m excited. He deserves to be here.
“I haven’t seen (the chirpy) side of Jarome playing alongside him but playing against him is a bit different. That’s what the halves do these days. He has a lot of skill. You can see that combination with him and Nath.
“Nath is running the show and he is jumping up when he needs to. Hopefully they can take that running formula and that club combination and bring it into this side.”
Cook is also wary of what Queensland opposite Harry Grant can do out of dummy half.
“He is dangerous,” Cook said. “He has great vision and great running game. He is happy to put his big fellas over the line. He has lots of energy and is always around the ball.”
JOHNS: WHY TOWNSVILLE WILL SUIT BLUES
By Matty Johns
I love that Townsville will be hosting Origin I.
The city and people deserve it given their support of the game in many facets over time.
I suspect moving the match from the MCG has saved some minor embarrassment, with reports ticket sales were slow.
Some believe, at best, the stadium would’ve been half full, and given the dimensions of the MCG, it would have been an average atmosphere at the ground and less than spectacular on the box.
Instead, Townsville is already in party mode, the atmosphere on game night in the stadium will be fantastic, and will look magical on the television.
On top of all that, the style of football played will be a far better advertisement for the sport, which I’ll get to in a second.
In my opinion, as far as Australia is concerned, you don’t need to take Origin to Adelaide or Perth to sell the game to that market. Rugby league is a television sport, if the game is played in the style it’s capable of, that’s the best sell.
And on the fast, dry surface of Queensland Country Bank Stadium, it’ll be State of Origin at its best.
The last 30 minutes of this contest, given the faster rucks of 2021 and the warmer conditions of North Queensland, will be end-to-end and chaotic.
I don’t think moving the game to Townsville gives Queensland a definite advantage.
While 99 per cent support in the stadium will give the Maroons a lift, and naturally exert pressure on the referee, the speed of the track and dryness of the surface will most definitely suit NSW.
This NSW team is built to move the football and they will be able to do it.
Also, the combinations which are built into the Blues give us a significant advantage.
Halves dictate the style, so the Penrith style, which has proved so effective in the new fast-moving game, will be how the Blues go about their football, stemming off the halves partnership of Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai.
I cannot tell you what a bonus this halves partnership will be for coach Brad Fittler.
Cleary and Luai know each other’s game as well as they know their own.
When their team receives the ball, they know exactly what they want to do with it and how to build the set to reach that outcome.
Therefore the Blues coaching staff won’t have to go through hours and hours of boring, energy-sapping ball work sessions trying to bed down a style which hopefully develops understanding.
The style is established, now it’s just plugging the ball runners into what the halves will look to do, a far simpler challenge.
My concern with the team is the balance of the forwards, we have a distinct lack of edge backrowers. Cam Murray is far more effective in the middle where his fast feet causes fatigued big men enormous problems, as opposed to the edge where others dictate how he receives the ball as well as attacking against more athletic defenders.
Likewise, Isiah Yeo is doubly dangerous through the middle, but may need to be moved to an edge as the contest evolves because of the amount of middle men in the squad.
But I love the centre-wing combinations.
The Latrell Mitchell/Josh Addo-Carr partnership may prove unstoppable. Latrell’s power and left-hand flick will provide Josh with consistent space, and I expect him to be the series’ leading tryscorer.
Brian To’o’s yardage game is immense, he’ll run for the most metres this series and the height and the athleticism of Tom Trbojevic will provide protection for him on high kicks.
Watch for Tom to go wandering in-field to link with brother Jake and Yeo, these combinations will be a real headache for a tiring Queensland defence at the back end of each half.
The side-to-side ball movement provided by the halves will slowly pry the middle defence of the Maroons open and then here comes James Tedesco.
In theory this is a really well put together football team and I can’t see any reason why they won’t be able to put it all into practice.
Queensland will of course relish their underdog status and realistically they are facing a number of serious challengers heading into Wednesday.
Kalyn Ponga has been ruled out and two of their most crucial players, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant, have missed a significant amount of football.
In the case of Munster, at worst, he’ll miss the game, at best he’ll be less than 100 per cent fit and underdone as far as match fitness is concerned. But then again Munster was by far the best player in Game I last season, despite nursing a serious hangover.
I’m tempted to say NSW win this well, but Queensland dig in under adversity, and fight to the final bell.
New South Wales by 6.
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