PROUD OF MAN GI HAS BECOME
THEY were once simply drawn willy-nilly from a hat.
Who would room together on a footy trip.
Well, not anymore.
The NSW Blues’ accommodation decisions are done with precision these days.
When two players are placed together it’s for a specific reason, whether it be their personalities or their on-field positions.
The NSW team is holed up at the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne, just a short walk from the MCG, where they will take on Queensland in the crucial State of Origin opener tonight. They take up an entire floor.
When NSW coach Brad Fittler and adviser Greg Alexander sat down to pick their team for game one, they also spoke at length about which players should room with each other – and why.
“Freddie and I did it when we picked the side,” Alexander said, having placed the players in their rooms in Coogee last week and keeping the arrangements in Melbourne.
“We have roomed edges. Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr will play together, I REMEMBER when Greg Inglis was playing at Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup.
Back then he was a lot skinnier – he’s certainly filled that big frame.
But even then he was a freakish player, and you knew he was going to be the superstar that he has become.
The way he does things, the way he moves across the field.
He makes a break or palms three or four opponents off and sets up a try.
Greg does things people aren’t probably supposed to do on a football field.
He’s got the ability to singlehandedly bring teams back from the depths, be it the Rabbitohs or Maroons.
Greg, though, always puts his teammates first.
We became close over many years of playing Origin together.
I remember my last series in 2015. I told him before anyone that I wasn’t just going to just James Roberts and Tommy Trbojevic, they’ll be together on the right edge.
“We didn’t room the halves – Jimmy Maloney and Nathan Cleary. We put Jimmy with retire from rep footy, I was going to retire full stop at the end of that year.
I remember walking into camp for game three, the series all tied up at one-apiece.
I pestered him all week – “you know I can’t walk out a loser’’.
Walking out on to Suncorp Stadium he said “I gotchya’’.
Those simple words made me feel at ease. I just knew that he was on.
We won 52-6. Greg came up to me at the end and said “I told you I gotchya”.
I’m very proud of what he’s achieved, and what’s he come back from.
I’ve watched him grow from a young kid into the man he is today; Queensland captain.
It’ll be a huge moment for Teddy (fullback James Tedesco).
“They will be working a lot together during the game.
“David Klemmer and Reagan Campbell-Gillard – him leading the players out on to the MCG tonight.
He’s not a big talker. He’s a guy who leads by his actions. That’s what makes a great captain; a guy who puts himself in the firing line first.
But I’m sure all the boys will back him up
He’s had his challenges over the past year and a half with his depression and his knee reconstruction which forced him out of last year’s Origin series.
A lot of guys would not have come back from where he’s been.
While Greg makes his 31st Origin appearance, my old Broncos teammate Andrew McCullough finally makes his first.
We always talk about the great Cameron Smith. two front-rowers together.”
Campbell-Gillard was overheard this week telling friends how loud Klemmer snores. Klemmer usually roomed with his old mate, Aaron Woods, who missed selection this year.
Potentially the quietest room on the floor is Cleary rooming with Frizell. Both are well-mannered and respectful and will be alongside each other tonight.
“We wanted to put Nathan with Tyson Frizell because they will defend together,” Alexander said.
Management felt Cleary may have remained in a
If Cameron wasn’t around Andrew probably would have played 15 to 20 games by now.
He just puts everything into his game, makes 50 or 60 tackles but it really goes unnoticed by everyone apart from his teammates.
He probably doesn’t get the accolades that everyone else around him gets but he’s a wonderful player.
He’s come back from a knee reconstruction, and he hurt his elbow in his second game back. He’s a tough kid.
I always knew he would play Origin and I’m just so glad he’s got his opportunity. I’m pretty sure he’ll take it with both hands.
It’s a changing of the guard at Queensland but the likes of Ben Hunt and Cameron Munster will do us proud.
They’ve just got to stick to the process. We’ve come up with a formula: the Queensland way, what it takes to be a Queensland player. comfort zone of sorts if he was lumped in with Panthers teammate Maloney.
As one of the perks of being captain, Boyd Cordner has the luxury of enjoying his own room.
Hooker Damien Cook and lock Jack de Belin will work alongside one another in the middle.
Angus Crichton and Tyron Peachey are in together as NSW debutants, while shadow players Nick Cotric and Tariq Sims have lived their experience together.
“Camp has been a great experience,” Peachey said.