NSW Blues have 24 hour recovery edge over Maroons heading into Origin II in Sydney
DEVOID of much luck over the past 12 years, finally New South Wales have been given an edge which is sure to lead to conspiracy theories and calls of victimisation from Queenslanders.
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DEVOID of much luck over the past 12 years, finally New South Wales have been given an edge which is sure to lead to conspiracy theories and calls of victimisation from Queenslanders.
But it may well be the 24 hours sent from heaven for the Blues.
Queensland are set to have six of their State of Origin stars in action on Sunday, while Josh Addo-Carr looms as NSW’s sole starter on the final day of round 15.
With just a week between when the teams are announced and they run out on to ANZ Stadium on Sunday week, Blues coach Brad Fittler will have a vital advantage of his players getting an extra 24 hours to recover from what will essentially be an eight-day preparation for Origin II.
Newcastle host Addo-Carr’s Melbourne at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday at 2pm with Wests Tigers playing Canberra at Campbelltown two hours later.
Melbourne’s Queensland contingent of Billy Slater, Will Chambers, Cameron Munster and Felise Kaufusi were all named on Tuesday to face possible Maroons saviour in Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga, while Josh Papalii will turn out for Canberra.
Coach Kevin Walters will have his fingers crossed that his six Maroons won’t turn up to camp on Monday morning battered and bruised, compared to a fresh and energised NSW team.
Sixteen NSW players will complete their round by Saturday night, meaning they can immediately begin physio and massage.
Blues players David Klemmer (Canterbury), Jack de Belin, Paul Vaughan and Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra), Jake and Tom Trbojevic along with James Roberts (Brisbane) all play Saturday.
“The games start on Thursday but most of our blokes are done by Saturday,” NSW coach Brad Fittler told The Daily Telegraph.
“We only have one bloke playing on Sunday. We just have to wait for this week really.”
Asked would it be a 24 hour bonus for his side, Fittler said: “Let’s hope so.”
Fittler on Tuesday said he would be reluctant to make any changes for Origin II.
The former Roosters and Panthers champion did however stress his players still had to come through this coming round unscathed before team selection.
“There is still a game to go,” Fittler said. “We have dissected our game and there are a lot of areas where we think we can do better. Queensland will most likely think the same.
“We have to be better if we want to win. We definitely need to learn a lot out of that first game.
“The first thing we need to learn is that we need to improve. If we don’t understand that we will be in for a rude shock.
“We need to turn up with a similar mindset. The mindset they had was to listen, learn and work in.”
Fittler stressed Queensland would be better and stronger in Sydney than the side sent out in Melbourne.
“Definitely,” Fittler said. “No doubt. They will be on a more familiar ground and there’s a good chance Billy (Slater) will come back. There are a few others players who could also come back.
“It (the MCG) was their first game without Cameron Smith and a few of those blokes who have run their side for a long time now.”