WORRY-FREE TEDESCO CONCENTRATING ON HIS OWN PREPARATION
JAMES Tedesco expects Queensland to make life harder for him in Sunday night’s second State of Origin clash and it doesn’t faze him one bit.
Tedesco produced the best game by any NSW fullback this decade, earning man-of-the-match honours as he busted through 13 tackles, scored one try and set up two others in the 10-point win in Melbourne on June 6.
But the Maroons have shown time and time again – in winning 11 of the past 12 series – they are quick learners.
Never was that clearer than last year when Andrew Fifita ran 50 more metres in game one than he did in the next two games combined.
“I don’t think those opportunities will be as big as they were in game one,” Tedesco admitted.
“Obviously they will tighten up their defence in the middle and know that’s where we’re coming.
“With (Queensland fullback Billy) Slater coming back and other players coming in, obviously they must win, so it’s a big game for us.”
Not that he is concerned.
The Sydney Roosters fullback spoke after game one about his positive mindset being the difference between his performance that night and his previous efforts.
And part of his seize-themoment mentality includes not being concerned by how Queensland tries to shut him down.
“I’m not worried or thinking about who I’m coming up against,” he said.
“It’s more my personal preparation – I was really happy with how I prepared for game one and I’m doing the same for game two.
“I think we can’t worry about Queensland too much.”
The Blues will enter the match as the shortest priced favourites they’ve been in the 38-year history of State of Origin, but have been burnt before after leading the series in 2013 and 2017 and failing to lift the shield.
Five-eighth James Maloney – who played in both those series – said it was hard to tell if this was a more confident group than in those years.
“I don’t know about feels,” he said. “Sometimes it feels good and it doesn’t go so good. Other times it doesn’t feel good and it goes well.
“It’s hard to say if it feels different and it’s going to turn. It’s irrelevant . ... I don’t think it all correlates.
“We need to make sure everyone of us plays our best and we’ll be right on Sunday.”
— AAP