New South Wales will train at the SCG just 72 hours before Origin I
NSW are leaving nothing to chance in readiness for an unfamiliar trip to the MCG by training on the Sydney Cricket Ground just 72 hours before Origin I.
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NSW ARE leaving nothing to chance in readiness for an unfamiliar trip to the MCG by training on the Sydney Cricket Ground just 72 hours before Origin I.
Coach Brad Fittler will conduct the Blues second-last training session at Sydney’s grand old ground next Sunday in a bid to familiarise themselves with the foreign oval-shape of which awaits them at the MCG.
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The Blues fly to Melbourne after lunch on Sunday ahead of Origin I on Wednesday, June 6.
NSW Origin team manager Peter Parr said one of Fittler’s first requests as head coach was that the players train at least once on the SCG.
“At our first meeting (several months ago), Brad said he wanted to train at the SCG,’’ Parr said.
“The oval-shape is vastly different to what the players are used to as the majority of players now play on rectangular stadiums.
“There’s the odd game at the SCG between South Sydney and the Dragons, but apart from that it’s very rare.
“At the Cowboys (where Parr is the general manager), we play Parramatta in Darwin which is an oval and we’ve always gone there earlier to try and get our bearings, in particularly for our kickers.
“So for us to get two training runs on cricket grounds is going to be invaluable.
“The ground staff have been terrific to set us up so that we can train there before we head to Melbourne.
“It means that the last two training sessions for us will be the SCG and the MCG. It’s imperative that we leave no stone unturned.’’
Former NSW captain Paul Gallen — the last captain to lead the Blues to victory at the MCG in 2015 — said the players would also need to adapt to the massive size of the 100,000 seat MCG.
“It’s good that Freddy is training on the SCG because that will help the kickers get a feel for the sidelines, which aren’t near the actual boundary fencing like a normal footy field,’’ Gallen said.
“But the one thing that the MCG does do is, it makes you feel like the fans are closer than what they are, because of the sheer size of it.
“They feel right on top of you — which as a player, was fantastic.
“I think that because it will be near full, that will help the players adapt to their surroundings quicker than perhaps playing in front of a half-empty SCG, which some of the Saints and Souths players would have in the past.’’
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