Blues told to limit Walsh

SYDNEY: Brad Fittler will tell New South Wales (NSW) they must limit Reece Walsh’s impact on debut and warned the young fullback won’t fall off his game easily just because he is 18-years-old.
Walsh has been named as one of the biggest Origin bolters of all time, going from outside Brisbane’s top squad at the start of the year to Queensland No.1 after seven games for the Warriors.
Fittler is the youngest player in NSW’s State of Origin history, having made his debut just three months after his 18th birthday in 1990.
But he at least had marginally more experience to his name than Walsh, coming into the NSW side after 12 NRL games.
Walsh’s call up makes him the second least experienced player in Origin history, behind Ben Ikin’s famous “who-are-you” moment after four games in 1995.
While Ikin’s selection came in the middle of the Super League war with Brisbane players unavailable, Walsh’s shapes as a genuine Hail Mary play from a Maroons team in crisis.
“I know a few other blokes who have done that,” Fittler said.
“It doesn’t work out for everyone but I love watching him play, he’s a real talent and we’re going to have to be very careful.
“He brings a lot of footy to their team… He’s a great footy player, very exciting.
“It seems he doesn’t get discouraged by errors, just gets on with it. That’s quite a trait.”
NSW can, however, no doubt target Walsh at Suncorp Stadium, with his defensive readiness even questioned by Warriors coach Nathan Brown.
The youngster has missed 10 of the 22 tackles he’s attempted in games he has started at fullback this year. – Yahoo Sports Australia

Covid-19 restrictions put game two attendance in doubt

SYDNEY: NRL staff, players’ families, fans and media face missing State of Origin two in Brisbane with travel restrictions imposed by the New South Wales (NSW) government on certain parts of Sydney.
NSW recorded 16 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 yesterday with the state government enacting a range of restrictions across greater Sydney, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Blue Mountains for one week.
Stricter restrictions were imposed from 4pm yesterday in seven local government areas (LGAs) of concern with The City of Sydney, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West and Randwick added to the already listed hotspot of Waverley.
A number of Origin players, their families and NRL staff reside in these areas and would need to make a desperate dash to Queensland for Sunday’s game to avoid border closures.
However, NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian urged anyone living or working in the seven LGAs not to travel before the 4pm cut off.
“We are being realistic and proportionate to the risk there. If you are living or working in those seven LGAs, please don’t travel outside Sydney,” she said. – 7 News

Paulo expecting fight in the middle

SYDNEY: All eyes may be on New South Wale’s backline ahead of Sunday’s State of Origin game two in Brisbane after they ran amok in a record-breaking series-opening win.
Indeed the Blues flyers have a hard act to follow after centres Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell cut loose in an astonishing 50-6 Origin one rout against a shellshocked Queensland in Townsville.
But newly promoted Blues prop Junior Paulo believes their re-jigged pack must take centre stage in game two at Suncorp Stadium to ensure their scoring blitz continues.
In fact the Parramatta battering ram is preparing to soak up the limelight in a battle that may be worth the price of admission alone on Sunday.
Paulo has slotted into the starting front row for Jake Trbojevic (hip), putting him on a collision course with the man he believes is the “benchmark” for props — returning Maroons juggernaut Josh Papalii, who missed the series opener due to suspension.
Paulo said their new-look pack – which also features recalled Sydney Roosters back-rower Angus Crichton on the bench — must again overpower the Maroons forwards to create freedom for Trbojevic, Mitchell and company.
“We play an expansive type of footy at the Blues but you can’t do that unless you lay a platform in the middle,” Paulo said.
However, that will be no simple task with 19-game Origin veteran Papalii ominously claiming this week that he wanted to add some much needed “mongrel” to the Maroons pack upon his return.
The 123kg Paulo and Papalii — who officially weighs in just 4kg lighter — became quick friends as teammates during Samoa’s 2017 Rugby League World Cup campaign.
But clearly there will be no love lost between the two on Sunday in what looms as a clash of the titans.
“We are mates off the field but once we cross the white line on Sunday we will be looking to go after each other,” Paulo smiled.
“Josh is a quality player.
“He’s coming back from suspension.
“He will be feeling refreshed and ready to go.” – NRL

Sims ready to protect Luai

SYDNEY: Tariq Sims is ready to protect Queensland’s No.1 target Jarome Luai on Sunday night, but he doesn’t think the cheeky New South Wales star needs his help.
Blues five-eighth Luai has become the image of the enemy in the Maroons camp in the lead-up to State of Origin two this week after a picture from the series opener in Townsville put a target on his back.
The photo was shared around Queensland camp and shows Luai in full celebration while looking down at a dejected Felise Kaufusi after Queensland’s humiliating 6-50 loss a fortnight ago.
Luai is already bracing for the extra attention from a fired up Maroons side at Suncorp Stadium with left-side Blues second-rower Sims on duty as added protection.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, he’s big enough and ugly enough to look after himself,” Sims told AAP.
“He’s actually a really big body and he’s not afraid to get dirty and make his tackles, which is nice, but if I can help out throughout the game I will.
“Every half has a target on his back, it’s as simple as that.
“He’s a confident player, he’s got players around him that he can lean on and he knows we’re all going to be there for him, no matter what.” – 7 News

Briefs

Geyer cautions NSW
SYDNEY: NSW will face Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday in a bid to back up their 50-6 demolition job in game one and seal the series. Queensland coach Paul Green has made several big changes to his side to stop that from happening, including bringing in one of the most exciting rookies in the game. NSW great Mark Geyer believes Queensland is using teenage superstar Reece Walsh to distract media, commentators and the opposition.

Wighton might leave
SYDNEY: Blues utility Jack Wighton is a chance of withdrawing from Origin two as he and his partner await the arrival of their third child. Wighton has been named to play off the bench for New South Wales again but he is on standby to leave camp and be by his partner’s side for the birth. If Wighton does withdraw, NSW has Api Koroisau, Campbell Graham, and Dale Finucane in the extended squad to fill in the gap. Blues legend Mark Geyer said the team has enough depth.

Haas focuses on Origin
SYDNEY: It may be easier said than done following Reece Walsh’s stunning Queensland call-up. But Payne Haas aims to ignore a potentially “toxic” environment at NRL club Brisbane in order to focus on State of Origin glory for NSW. Bench forward Haas was understandably all smiles on Tuesday when he ran out for the Blues’ training session at Kingscliff ahead of Sunday’s Origin two clash at Suncorp Stadium. Though just near the Queensland border, Haas was a world away from the club drama. – Agencies