Paul Vaughan believes he can lead the Blues pack as prop race heats up

Paul Vaughan believes he can be the man to lead New South Wales forward in Origin II as competition heats up to replace David Klemmer.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 05: Paul Vaughan of the Blues is tackled during game one of the 2019 State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on June 05, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

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Bring it on.

That’s the attitude of NSW last-prop standing Paul Vaughan, who has declared his willingness to fill the void of injured Blues spearhead David Klemmer.

Vaughan’s craving to lead the Blues pack to a series-saving State of Origin victory over Queensland on June 23 in Perth has emerged ahead of NSW coach Brad Fittler selecting his Origin II side on Sunday.

Replacing Klemmer - the Blues best forward in Origin I and who is hoping to return from a broken hand in time for Origin three - is a match-defining decision for Fittler.

A collection of big-men have just 80-minutes during Round 14 which kicks-off Thursday night in Canberra to prove to Fittler why they belong alongside Vaughan in the NSW front-row.

With Test prop Jordan McLean (hamstring) unavailable, the leading candidates to be called into the NSW front-row for game two include, Brisbane’s Matt Lodge, Melbourne’s Dale Finucane, Penrith’s Regan Campbell-Gillard and Cronulla’s Matt Prior.

Could Prior earn an Origin recall? Picture by Brett Costello.

Vaughan said he had full faith in each of the candidates.

“Campbell-Gillard has been there (Origin) before. He’s getting back in form and when he’s at his aggressive best, he’s one of the best front rowers in the game,’’ Vaughan said.

“You’ve got him to consider and Dale Finucane has been a very successful player for a long time.

“He’s been at great clubs and has played in four or five grand finals, so you can’t look past him.

“Everything that he does, he’s efficient. His work rate is great and he’s just one of those blokes you’d think is pretty much made for Origin.

“I’m not on the coaching staff, but I’m sure they’ll pick the right person for the job.

“One of the best things NSW has is their forwards to choose from - it’s unreal.

“Whoever is going to get picked is going to do the job, there’s no doubt about that.’’

Vaughan is one of the state’s last props standing. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

Vaughan played 41-minutes in Origin I producing 99-metres during the Blues game one loss.

The St George-Illawarra forward conceded he was in awe of Klemmer’s dominant 52-minute stint for NSW - but relished the opportunity to push his limits in the absence of the injured star.

“I was devastated for him,’’ Vaughan said of Klemmer’s injury.

“Klem is one of the best front-rowers going around in the comp.

“I look up to him. I see how he trains, how he prepares, he’s got a huge motor and I just want to try and match what he does.

“He’s pretty tough, so someone is going to have to step up to that workload he has because it’s a pretty decent workload.

“Whoever they put in there will have pretty big shoes to fill, but at the same time I want to step up and increase my workload as well.

“I felt my performance personally, was pretty strong in Origin I and now I know I can compete at that level, I want to do more.

Can Vaughan lead the way like Klemmer did? AAP Image/Dean Lewins.

“I want to have a bigger impact, I want to play longer minutes, I want to do more work, that’s just me.

“And if that’s what I have to do, I’ll be happy to do that.

“I don’t know if I can play 50 straight minutes like Klem, because I don’t have a massive motor and I play a bit different, but at the same time I can get those minutes in different stints.’’

With hardened experience in big matches, having won two premierships and handed his first NSW Origin jumper last year, Prior would answer the call for his state, in the eyes of his coach at Cronulla, John Morris.

“He’s ready if they’re after someone who is going to get the job done and compete really hard,’’ Morris said of Prior, who gets his final chance to impress in Canberra.

“It was great that he got that one game last year, but I think he’d definitely love another shot at it.

“He likes to set the tone with his line speed, he likes to get off the line and he always puts himself in the picture, chasing back off breaks and scrambling.

“They’re the things he probably doesn’t get the wraps for, but what you love as a coach and teammate.’’