State of Origin: NSW Blues star Bradman Best puts target on Knights teammate Dane Gagai
Returning Blues enforcer Bradman Best has been cleared to take on the Maroons in the State of Origin decider - and he has a familiar target firmly in his crosshairs. Latest NSW Blues news.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Bradman Best is the apprentice to Dane Gagai at Newcastle but the NSW centre is confident of leaving the cauldron after Wednesday night’s decider as the master of Origin.
The duo will face off in the centres at Suncorp Stadium and Best has no intention of showing his Knights teammate, turned Origin foe, any respect.
It took just three words on Monday for Best to declare his intentions.
“I’m not worried,” Best said when reminded of Gagai’s Origin exploits.
Gagai is one of Origin’s most prolific try scorers, crossing the line 12 times in 22 games. Only Greg Inglis (18), Darius Boyd (17) and Valentine Holmes (13) have scored more tries than Gagai in the Origin arena.
But Best is not only confident of nullifying Gagai’s attacking threat, the 22-year-old is as self-assured about getting one over the Maroons veteran who has been his mentor for the last three seasons at Newcastle.
Best made easy work of Xavier Coates and Holmes on the left edge 12 months ago, scoring two tries in his Blues debut.
Gagai should expect similar treatment from the powerhouse Blues back.
“I got a taste of it last year I want to go out there and replicate that,” Best said.
“Yeah he did (mentor me), I reckon it’s going to be a good contest. It' will be good. We’ve trained along side each other for a long time, it is going to be a good battle.”
Best was not only kept wrapped in cotton wool last week by Blues medical staff as a managed a minor hamstring injury, he’d been kept away from the media spotlight during the Blue Mountains camp.
Best got through his first contact session on Saturday unscathed and finished Monday’s opposed training run against Wynnum Manly Sea Eagles at Ballymore Stadium in top form.
“I’m all good,” Best declared.
“The start of the week physios were looking after me but it’s been a good week. It (hamstring) was a bit tight but I got looked after very well, the physios here are second to none.”
Many believed the loss of South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell to a foot injury in the decider would blunt NSW’s intimidation factor in the backline.
But Blues winger Zac Lomax said Best, who has been dubbed an ‘animal’ by his Blues teammates, is ready to unleash and should be as feared as Mitchell.
“It brings out the best in every player. He is going to up for it,” Lomax said.
“He’s a class player and has shown that on numerous occasions, last year, when he debuted he was outstanding for us. I’m sure he’s going to do the same thing come Wednesday night.”
Lomax conceded the nerves had set in early last week at the enormity of winning an Origin series at Suncorp Stadium set in.
But rather than bow to the pressure, Lomax has been thriving in the challenge of lining up for what will be biggest, and most important, game of his career so far.
“Mate, I just love it. I love the buzz and the feeling that it gives you,” Lomax said.
Lomax, who was one of best in NSW’s emphatic game two victory at the MCG, hasn’t played a finals match at NRL level since his debut season in 2018.
But the 24-year old is ready to rise to the occasion.
“These are the biggest games that I have played in, I haven’t been fortunate enough to play too much finals footy so for me this is the biggest game I have played in so far,” Lomax said.
“I’ll soak it up as much as I can, I love being able to be a part of it.”
BLUES GREAT: PRESSURE BREAKING ORIGIN
- Dean Ritchie
Rattled, showing weakness, being under pressure and second-guessing himself.
NSW has stepped up its relentless attack on Queensland coach Billy Slater, who enters Wednesday night’s State of Origin decider under pressure after the Maroons’ MCG debacle.
It comes as sources close to the NSW camp claim Blues coach Michael Maguire “has stood up for the team and people of NSW.”
Slater cancelled a traditional media day early in camp, prompting Maguire to describe NSW as the “people’s team” while the Queensland coach offered unusual answers at a post-game press conference in Melbourne.
“This is Slater’s big test – you’ve seen signs of frustration and really second-guessing himself at times when we normally see a very comprehensive and confident Billy Slater,” said NSW legend Benny Elias.
“The players feel that, I can assure you.
“The old ‘glass houses’ comment certainly rattled them and then ‘Madge’ described NSW as the ‘people’s team’.
“When Slater shut off all the media and shut off all the spectators, that was the first sign of being under pressure. Normally Slater is an open book and very accommodating for everybody including media, spectators, family and friends.
“It’s all been terrific (over the past two years) but when it starts getting tough he shuts down and, from my point of view, that’s probably the greatest sign of weakness that I have seen.
“There’s no two-ways about it – he is doing things that he hasn’t normally done. He has changed his way to prepare for game three compared to all his other matches.
“There are mannerisms and actions that are totally different from his normal preparation. Seeing it from afar, as I said, this is the first sign of weakness. I will back that every day and twice on a Sunday.”
Maguire and his side checked out of their Leura resort on Sunday and flew to Brisbane. One source close to the Blues said NSW’s camp – comprising current and former players – had been galvanised under Maguire this series.
“NSW is always bagged about who we are, our past and how Queensland is this and that,” the source said.
“That is what ‘Madge’ has changed. NSW now has a togetherness, they have galvanised. Billy is doing things that he hasn’t done before. The Blues have their own identity.
“Maguire has stood up for his players and the people of NSW.”
Elias added: “It starts and finishes at the top and that is the coach. In this position I just see ‘Madge’ being a lot more cool, calm and collected.
“The way Madge has presented himself and the team with the fine details, and his energy levels, have been second-to-none. He has just been so thorough off and off the field and that makes such a big difference.
“We know we can get that trophy back here, where it belongs, in NSW.
“I think we will go up there and do something special and these 17 players will remember this game for the rest of their lives, I can assure you.”
TAB bookies have Queensland $1.85 favourites with NSW the $1.95 outsiders.
BLUES LEAVE FOR ENEMY TERRITORY
- Fatima Kdouh
With a boarding pass in hand NSW centre Bradman Best, and his Blues teammates, jetted into enemy territory on a record-defying mission at Suncorp Stadium in Wednesday night’s decider.
History and a Queensland ambush, which Maroons coach Billy Slater has spent all week plotting, now stand between the Blues and the Origin shield.
Filled with confidence after emphatically disposing of the Maroons in game two, Blues coach Michael Maguire received a further boost after strike weapon Best was cleared of a minor hamstring injury.
The Blues, and Maguire, will need the Newcastle star to be at his damaging best to overcome a poor record at the cauldron, where NSW have only two (1993, 2005) of the past 13 deciders north of the border.
But after bullying the Maroons at the MCG, Queensland great Cameron Smith has predicted there won’t be a repeat of that humiliation suffered at hands of the Blues.
“I think that’s going to be their mindset … there are no second chances now,” Smith said on Channel 9.
“They really didn’t bring any type of physicality to the game. They thought they were going to outsmart the Blues with their football but as you know, you need to win the physical battle first before you play any type of football.”
Smith challenged forward Pat Carrigan and Lindsay Collins to lead the surprise Suncorp attack on Wednesday night.
“He’s (Slater) been into us about the opportunity to home to our fans at Suncorp Stadium for a decider, that’s the most important thing that we get to play in front of our people,” Maroons forward Carrigan revealed on Sunday.
“He’s got us ready to go.”
But the Maroons big men have to get through the likes of Blues powerhouses Payne Haas, Angus Crichton, Liam Martin and firebrand Spencer Leniu first.
Leniu has been in tearaway form and Crichton backed his Roosters teammate to punish the Maroons once again.
“You can’t put it into words … the aggression that he brings, the speed that he carries with. He never takes a backward step,” Crichton said.
“He’s a real fierce competitor, to have him coming off the bench is a big thing for us. You see it in club land that injection he adds and brings.
“I’m sure we’ll feel it on Wednesday as well.”
Maguire has been just as busy as Slater, plotting and scheming a game plan to help the Blues break an 19-year decider hoodoo at Suncorp Stadium.
The Maroons have won six of the last series deciders played in Queensland since the Blues’ last win in 2005, including in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020 and 2022.
But Isaah Yeo believes a rejuvenated Blues outfit is no longer bogged down by the weight of history.
“You can look at the history and it might not be favourable for NSW. But this is a brand new group and a totally different culture we are building here, we are excited for the challenge,” Yeo said.
Under Maguire, there is also no place for excuses.
The Blues have suffered the brunt of a lopsided penalty count at Suncorp Stadium, winning the count only nine times from the 60 games played in Queensland.
When told about the serious uneven penalty count, Crichton refused to have a bar of it.
“We don’t care about any penalty count, we don’t want any excuses,” Crichton said.
“We just have to go hard and secure it.”
Star on the outer after bombshell deals
The Broncos appear set to lose a star player in the wake of several blockbusters deals which have left little space in the cap.
Bennett’s incredible move amid Souths disaster
As the Rabbitohs lick their wounds from a shock double injury blow, Wayne Bennett’s incredible act came to light showing why the club will be just fine.