Maroons’ mind games fall flat as NSW prepare for Origin I
The New South Wales Blues have brushed off Queensland’s pre-Origin I bluster, insisting they are not being distracted by the Maroons’ mind games.
The Maroons have been vocal in the lead-up to Wednesday’s series opener in Sydney, with captain Daly Cherry-Evans claiming the Blues are scared of their opponents.
But Blues coach Brad Fittler said his team is not taking the bait, and is focused on its own game plan.
We’re not getting caught up in all the hype, Fittler said.
We know Queensland are going to be tough, but we’re confident in our own ability. We’re not going to let their words get to us.
Blues captain James Tedesco echoed Fittler’s sentiments, saying the team is ready for whatever Queensland throws at us.
They can say whatever they want, but we’re not going to let it affect us, Tedesco said.
We’re just going to go out there and play our own game. We’re confident that if we do that, we can win.
Maroons’ mind games backfire
It appears that the Maroons’ pre-Origin mind games have backfired, with the Blues using them as motivation.
According to reports, the Maroons have been sledging the Blues in the lead-up to the series opener, calling them soft and weak.
But the Blues have taken the sledging in their stride, and have vowed to use it to fuel their performance on Wednesday night.
Blues forward Reagan Campbell-Gillard said the team is pissed off by the Maroons’ comments.
They’ve been talking a lot of smack, but we’re going to show them what we’re made of, Campbell-Gillard said.
We’re going to go out there and prove that we’re the better team.
Blues confident of victory
The Blues are confident of victory in Origin I, despite Queensland’s home-ground advantage.
The Blues have won the past two series, and will be looking to make it three in a row.
Fittler said he is confident in his team’s ability to win in Brisbane.
We know it’s going to be a tough game, but we’re confident that we can win, Fittler said.
We’ve got a great team, and we’re ready for the challenge.
Key players to watch:
- Blues: James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, Nathan Cleary
- Maroons: Daly Cherry-Evans, Cameron Munster, Valentine Holmes
Kind regards E. Thompson
