Running risk if focus on Fifita
QUEENSLAND’S attempts to target Andrew Fifita in attack will only come back to the bite them, according to NSW captain Boyd Cordner.
The Maroons have made no secret of their desire to shut down Game-One menace Fifita in tomorrow’s must-win State of Origin clash at ANZ Stadium.
Queensland players have been spotted piling four men into players representing the Cronulla prop at their training in the past week, regularly shouting his name in defence.
But Cordner said that the Maroons putting all their defensive energy on one player was fraught with danger.
“If they want to just focus in on one player, we’ve got a lot of strike across the field where we can hurt them,” Cordner said.
The anticipated tactic follows a similar approach adopted by Melbourne in the NRL match following Game One as they toppled Cronulla.
The Storm, captained by Queensland skipper Cameron Smith, pushed multiple defenders towards Fifita every time he carried the ball in the round-14 clash. And while they couldn’t silence the NSW enforcer, they at least stunted his impact.
With Queensland debutant Tim Glasby in the forwards, the Storm held Fifita to just 7.5m per run – his second-lowest average output of the season.
Fifita’s influence will be crucial to the Blues’ attempts to claim just their second series win in 11 years.
The 27-year-old was the Blues’ best in their 28-4 seriesopening win in Brisbane last month.
He busted through seven tackles, scored one try and set up another in a man-of- thematch performance.
And Cordner said he couldn’t see any reason why that performance wouldn’t be replicated in Sydney.
“He played unreal (in) Game One,” Cordner said.
“He’ll be in for another big game.”