Papalii: Baby Blues face harsh initiation
MAROONS hit-man Josh Papalii believes Brad Fittler’s Baby Blues are in for a shock as Queensland legend Gary Belcher warned NSW could be facing Origin pain.
New Blues coach Fittler will hand a record 11 players their State of Origin debuts in Wednesday’s series opener at the MCG.
The Maroons have farewelled 101 games of Origin experience with Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk retiring, but still boast 112 appearances in their team compared to 39 for NSW.
Fittler has opted for a team packed with youth and speed in a bid to snap Queensland’s three-series winning streak.
But that has come at the cost of experience in the Origin arena, with Maroons coach Kevin Walters blooding only three debutants in Jai Arrow, Felise Kaufusi and Andrew McCullough.
Papalii, preparing for his 10th Origin match, said the new Blues were in for a surprise in league’s toughest arena.
“It’s a big shock going from club footy to Origin,” he said.
“The pace of the game and physicality is on a different level as well.”
In 1989, the Blues blooded eight players in Game One and lost 36-6 as Queensland won the series 3-0.
Belcher played in all three games for the Maroons that year and said the short-term pain led to success, as NSW won four of the next five series.
“In 1989 they brought in eight players. They were picked for the future and they got a shock up against a more experienced Queensland side,” he said.
“Picking the best players, best talent and most exciting players doesn’t mean they’re automatically going to jell and have success. Having said that, I understand where Freddy (Fittler) is coming from.
“They had to make some big changes.”