Gasnier backs gamble
FORMER NSW star Mark Gasnier is so confident in Brad Fittler’s centre gamble for State of Origin II that he fears being flown out of Perth after one day.
Gasnier had his first session with the NSW squad yesterday after being invited into camp by Fittler and adviser Greg Alexander. Fittler has been criticised for opting for an unlikely three-quarter line that consists of two fullbacks over Latrell Mitchell and veteran Josh Morris.
But by the time the twohour run was over, Gasnier had seen enough from Tom Trbojevic and Jack Wighton to think he may be on the next plane back to Sydney.
“I did a little bit of video with the guys on Sunday, and then Freddie [Fittler] and Brandy [Alexander] were nice enough to invite me over,” Gasnier said yesterday.
“Judging on how good they were today, I probably feel like a bit of an intruder. I don’t think they need me. They looked really comfortable today. It was really pleasing and again, I think they might even ship me out tonight.”
The Blues ramped up their preparations with easily their most physical session of the week, which featured some jolting hits that reverberated around Hale School.
Gasnier was especially prominent around some of their set plays, and worked particularly intensely with their left centre in Wighton.
The Canberra star has taken the place of Mitchell, who was controversially dumped from the game-one side because of a poor performance. While there were plenty of fears about Queensland’s left edge heading into Origin I, it was on their right side that made plenty of inroads into the Blues’ defence.
However Gasnier believes Wighton has the tools to succeed where Mitchell failed.
“His athleticism, his football knowledge, his footwork,” Gasnier said. “He’s a pretty good student of the game.”