State of Origin 2021: NSW Blues won’t let Maroons’ rough-house tactics go unchecked
Blues hooker Damien Cook has warned the Maroons NSW won’t allow rough-house tactics against their star players to go unchecked in the Origin opener.
Blues
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blues. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Blues hooker Damien Cook has ruled a line in the sand by declaring the entire NSW squad will stand-up to Queensland’s rough-house tactics they implemented last year.
NSW are preparing for halfback Nathan Cleary to be targeted by the Maroons defenders, a plan that Cook says his side won’t allow to go unchecked.
The Blues learned a lesson they haven’t forgotten during last year’s series with the treatment Maroons forward Jai Arrow delivered to a concussed James Tedesco.
Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand with No Ad-Breaks During Play. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
Arrow picked up and then dropped Tedesco when the NSW captain was knocked out in the first half of game three at Suncorp Stadium last year.
Arrow was fined by the NRL and later apologised for manhandling a clearly unwell Tedesco.
“Those two guys (Tedesco and Cleary) are the top two players in our team and that’s why they’re captain and vice-captain as well,’’ Cook said. “We’ve got to back them 100 per cent in whatever they do in this game.
“It’s your halfback, you’ve got to look after your halfback and obviously your fullback.
“Hopefully we can lay a good platform for those two and the rest of the outside backs to do a good job.”
At the time, Blues coach Brad Fittler said Arrow had shown a lack of respect to Tedesco, who was left flat on his stomach after collecting the knee of Josh Papalii on a kick return.
The Blues haven’t forgotten the incident.
Asked if he anticipated the NSW players to respond to the incident on Wednesday night, Queensland coach Paul Green said: “Maybe, I’m not sure.
“To Jai’s defence I don’t think he realised how crook Teddy was at the time.
“I think if he knew that, he probably wouldn’t do that.
“But that’s what happens in Origin, it’s a fairly intense environment.
“That’s happened to Queensland players in the past also, so if they’re going to use that as motivation for this year, that’s up to them.’’
THE HEARTWARMING BLUES ORIGIN JERSEY PRESENTATION
We failed you last year and now is the time for cane toad retribution.
Emotional NSW players who competed in last year’s gut-wrenching series loss to Queensland spoke passionately at a Blues jersey presentation function about a raging desire for redemption.
And their pledge came as proud family members presented the four debutants — Jarome Luai, Liam Martin, Brian To’o and 18th man Api Koroisau — with their NSW jumpers.
In a heartwarming moment, Eddie To’o presented a jumper to brother Brian, Martin Luai handed out a jersey to son Jarome, Maxine Martin gave a Blues jumper to son Liam while Koroisau received his Origin guernsey from partner, Amy.
Luai showed off his treasured sky blue jumper to son, Israel.
Every member of the NSW was asked to stand up and speak in front of teammates to express their commitment for this year’s series, which starts in Townsville on Wednesday night.
Virtually to a man, each player involved in last year’s shock loss claimed to have let themselves down and the state of NSW.
Now the time has come to extract revenge.
“An Origin series loss is like losing a grand final,” said NSW adviser, Greg Alexander.
“It is a great source of motivation for the following year.
“Players spoke about what the Blues jersey means to them, what it means to the state, having won in 2018 and 2019, and how much that meant to the people of NSW.
“They are playing for their families and the Blues Origin family.
“They were all disappointed about what happened last year. That’s for sure.
“Every person spoke, about their pledge to the team and how much it means to them after the disappointment of not getting it done last year.”
NSW coach Brad Fittler revealed the raw emotion behind family members handing out jerseys to NSW’s newcomers.
“If their families were any gauge last night, they (the debutants) are excited. They came in last night and presented their jersey to the boys,” Fittler said.
“It was very emotional. It was a great night for the team. Sometimes you need to go and speak to families and find out what it means to them.
“Once you’re in the bubble, everything becomes so intense and the preparation is serious. It was nice to see some family and get their view.”
Alexander added: “It was fantastic. All the boys making their debuts had family come in. It was extremely emotional, they were each talking about their journey and what it means to each boy and each family.”
A former NSW star, Alexander was given the honour of issuing jumpers to the remaining players.
The Blues arrived in Townsville on Monday to a beautiful 24 degrees and will complete a captain’s run at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Tuesday afternoon after a video session on Monday night.
“The warmth is nice,” Fittler said. “We will get to our hotel and readjust and get on with it. We will get familiar. We are now at the pointy end of the preparation, the exciting end.
“It’s about, if anything, holding your cool a little bit and enjoy being up here in the nice weather.”
NSW skipper James Tedesco was troubled last week with a hip injury but he will definitely play.
“He was a little bit sore early on but went and did everything,” Fittler said. “That’s a really good sign.”
THE DAY BLUES GIANT THOUGHT HIS NRL CAREER WAS OVER
Payne Haas is so tall he could eyeball the six-foot-six Michael Jordan.
To appreciate his size, Haas is 10kg heavier than what former Balmain legend Steve Roach weighed when he played for NSW and Australia.
And to prove just how athletically-gifted he is, Haas once beat renowned fitness-freak and former Broncos fullback Darius Boyd in a 1.2km time-trial. However, Haas’ softly-spoken nature belies his size.
His hushed library voice is in complete contrast to his sheer presence.
So much so, you wonder if it irritates him that he has to bend down to speak into the tape recorder — as though he’s impersonating a swimmer about to dive from the starting blocks.
Haas’ shoulders are round and dense like kettlebells, just perfect for whacking Queenslanders.
Shake his massive hand and it feels like you’re a kid who has just slipped their hand into a big-old catcher’s mitt.
On his day, the NSW and Brisbane Broncos prop-forward is the most devastating front-rower in the entire NRL. On Wednesday, he can prove he’s the best middle-man in the world, on rugby league’s greatest stage, State of Origin.
The six-foot-five and 117kg forward’s job is to run hard, tackle hard and leave his flailing opposition wishing that he’d chosen another occupation.
They almost got their wish. It came that close.
Which is why Wednesday in Townsville is so important to the 21-year-old who, for the first time in his life, has something more meaningful to hold, than just a football.
He is the father of two-week old baby, Lalita.
“I don’t know, that’s the scary thing, I just don’t know,’’ the Blues enforcer said.
Haas has just been asked what he would have done, had NSW Police Minister David Elliott got his way?
“No matter what, even if I was kicked out of the NRL, I had to change,” Haas said. “I don’t want my daughter growing up reading news reports about her Dad — the idiot.’’
Back in February this year, Elliott weighed into the mess that Haas had created for himself.
Haas, who was with his then pregnant partner Leilani, was arrested and charged with using offensive language and two counts of intimidating police.
His behaviour was plain ordinary, creating headlines that you wouldn’t want your son or brother to be associated with — let alone your father.
Haas has since explained the loss of his brother Chace last August led him to a day of heavy drinking which culminated in his foul-mouthed spray at NSW Police officers.
Chace was rendered quadriplegic and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair after a car crash before Haas was born.
Haas offered two public apologies, taking responsibility for his “totally unacceptable” behaviour — even though he now admits he was in a deep “hole” after his brother’s passing.
Magistrate Geoff Dunlevy placed a conditional release order on Haas, a form of good behaviour bond, warning that if he reoffended he would be resentenced.
The NRL fined Haas $50,000 and suspended him from the first three matches this season.
Elliott told anyone that wanted to listen though, that if he were running the game, Haas would be sacked.
Haas remembers waking up the day after being charged by police believing he would never run onto a football field again, let alone Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Wednesday night.
“When I got in trouble, the next day I thought I was gone,” Haas said.
“I thought the NRL was going to be done with me.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen to my career.
“I feel like an idiot, even now when I think about it. Because it’s not me, it’s not who I am.
“At the end of last year, I was going through some things.
“I’m not making any excuses for my wrongdoings, but I felt like I fell in a hole and with some help from some good people, I feel really good now.
“My partner Leilani was the biggest help. She helped me a lot to make me understand what I was risking. Especially when back then, I had a daughter on the way.
“I don’t want her to see this kind of stuff and with her dad on news reports when she’s older.
“I’m just fortunate that the NRL gave me another chance and the Broncos gave me that chance and I’m very grateful for that.
“I knew I had to change straight away as soon as that happened.”
Lalita can fit in the cradle of Haas’ forearm.
“I’m a Dad,’’ he says with pride in his voice. “She’s getting big quickly.
“I don’t know how women do what they can do. I have even more respect for women after watching how much love and care they have for their baby.
“I know I get it pretty easy, I go to sleep, go to training.
“You know, before she came (Lalita), I knew that there would be a big responsibility on me.
“I have to put food on the table for my daughter and Leilani and my family in the future.
“I know I have to change my ways and those changes I have made, have been for the good.
“Having a daughter has been the best thing that could happen to me.
“I just want to provide for them.‘’
Haas can only “provide” if he’s winning football matches. That’s what he’s paid to do.
He averages more run metres — 154 per game — than any other Broncos player, including anyone in their backline.
Haas, who was born in inner-city Sydney suburb Paddington, knows he needs to match that effort if he is to lead NSW to victory in game one of the series.
“If your middle isn’t going forward, we’re not giving ourselves the best shot to win the game,’’ Haas said. “I know what Origin is about. It’s a real privilege to be here.
“I played my best Origin game in game two last year and I just failed to turn up in game three. It’s more of a mental thing for me.
“I have no excuses not to be in the right frame of mind for this game.
“I know exactly what I’m playing for.’’
FRIGHTENING STATS HIGHLIGHT MAJOR BLUES ISSUE
By Michael Carayannis and Fatima Kdouh
NSW are preparing for an aerial raid as frightening new statistics reveal how Queensland are expected to attack debutant winger Brian To’o under the high ball.
There is no doubt To’o’s form proved too irresistible to ignore for selection, the Penrith powerhouse is the best metre-eating outside back in the NRL. He tops the most metres this season but it is the considerable height advantage he is giving away to opposite Kyle Feldt which could be exposed on Wednesday night.
To’o is 10 centimetres shorter than Feldt and statistics crunched by Fox Sports Lab show To’o’s bomb defusal rate is just 52.6 per cent. That has him ranked 46th in the NRL for any attacking kick which has been knocked on, knocked back, let bounce or missed all together this season.
To’o knows what is coming his way in Origin I in Townsville.
“I’ve had heaps of opponents who are a lot taller than me,” To’o said. “It’s another challenge for me. I’ve been facing a lot of challengers my whole life. It’s what makes me a footy player.
“I want to teach the kids out there that it doesn’t matter if you’re tall or small but if you set your mind to it and put your heart into it you can accomplish anything.
“I will do my best. I’ve been practising taking those high balls and going up against tall opposition. I’m keen for the game.”
Fellow winger Josh Addo-Carr ranks 32nd this season with 64.7 per cent. The Blues are expected to rely on To’o’s inside man Tom Trbojevic to help provide some protection.
Trbojevic has failed to defuse just one bomb this year from 11 attempts to sit fourth during his time at fullback for the Sea Eagles.
To’o said Trbojevic will lend a hand despite being named at centre.
“He will look after me,” To’o said. “We have spoken about competing for the ball and getting around and supporting each other.”
Aside from ensuring To’o is well prepared on the field, Trbojevic is taking care of his rookie teammate off it. The pair are roommates and To’o has been drawn to his “veteran” teammate who is just two years older.
“Turbo has been taking good care of me,” To’o said. “Turbo has been making sure I’ve got my kit on right and I have everything set for training. He has been looking after me.
“I am grateful for Tommy, who has taken me under his wing. He is the face of Nike so he is looking after me. I tell him it’s all right but he is always giving.”
BLUES’ BENCH MEN READY FOR IMPACT
NSW have revealed how they will use their engine room to try to combat Queensland’s pack in the State of Origin series opener.
“Move them around the park” and “run hard,” revealed Blues big man Payne Haas.
Haas is expected to come off the bench in game one, alongside Parramatta behemoth Junior Paulo, Penrith’s agile Liam Martin and Canberra playmaker Jack Wighton.
It’s a move designed to steamroll Queensland’s formidable pack of Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, David Fifita, Christian Welch, Moeaki Fotuaika, Felise Kaufusi, Joe Ofahengaue, Jaydn Su’A and Kurt Capewell.
Both Haas and Paulo are regular starters at NRL level but the Brisbane prop is confident that playing from the bench will give the Blues an “advantage” in the forwards battle.
“I think it does give [us an advantage], especially with Junior’s ball-playing skills and the way he runs hard. I think it is really going to help against this Queensland team,” Haas said.
“With [Isaah] Yeoy and his skills, we can really move them around and then use [Daniel] Saifiti and myself, who just like to run the ball.”
Blues adviser Greg Alexander confirmed coach Brad Fittler will take the unorthodox approach up front and start Jake Trbojevic at prop, rather than in his usual spot at lock, alongside Saifiti.
That allows Yeo to play in the No. 13 jumper and the Blues to tap into the Penrith’s style of football with Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai paired in the halves.
“With Nathan, Jarome and Isaah Yeo in the middle, they’re the players – apart from Cook – who will handle the ball the most so I think it’s just natural what Nathan, Jarome and Isaah bring to Penrith, they’ll bring to the Blues side next Wednesday,” Alexander said.
Debutant Martin revealed he will also play a similar role from the bench to that in club footy for the Panthers.
“I’ll be coming off the bench, either playing in the backrow or middle … we haven’t decided [exactly where] yet but that’ll be decided closer to the game time. I’ve played a bit of both growing up and this year coming off the bench with Penrith, I have played both roles,” Martin said.
“Growing up in SG Ball me and Clez [Cleary] were on the right and then I switched to the left with Romy [Luai], then I came back to the right so I’m comfortable with both of them.
“Clez is a big boy and good to defend alongside, he calls himself the ‘hit man’. Romy has that silky skill that just creates opportunity for you.
The Blues shifted Friday’s field session to Redfern Oval after Coogee Oval was washed out. The side broke camp on Friday afternoon before returning to Sydney on Sunday and then flying out to Townsville on Monday morning.
More Coverage
Originally published as State of Origin 2021: NSW Blues won’t let Maroons’ rough-house tactics go unchecked
Storm coach puts end date on career
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has opened up on his future and putting a potential finishing date on his legendary career.
Search delayed: Inside the 72 hours that left Blues coachless
Less than 72 hours after outlining his plan to defend the State of Origin shield in 2025, Michael Maguire signed a three-year deal with the Broncos. DAVID RICCIO reveals when the Blues will begin scouting for Maguire’s replacement.