MAROONS TARGET COAST GIANT
Keebra giant in the sights of QLD’s pack
MAROONS legend Darren Lockyer has challenged Queensland’s pack to muscleup to NSW monster Payne Haas as Cameron Munster backed his side to “bash some heads” in tomorrow night in Origin I.
The 118kg Haas will be the heaviest player on the field in the series opener and NSW coach Brad Fittler is banking on the Bronco’s rampaging charges at Suncorp Stadium.
Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans yesterday spoke of the Haas threat, admitting Origin I will be decided by the battle of the bench.
Despite having played just 10 NRL games, Haas, 19, is primed for a barnstorming NSW debut and Lockyer warned the enormous Blues prop could run riot. “Payne has been enormous for the Broncos,” said former state skipper and current selector Lockyer.
“I know it’s a different level, but Haas coming on with fresh legs against tired defenders ... he is a guy Queensland need to do a good job on.
“Once you make contact with him in numbers, you can’t let him keep pushing for another three or five metres.
“Queensland need to stop him in his tracks.”
Haas has had a phenomenal start to his 2019 campaign, amassing 1219 running metres from just seven games at an average of 174m per match.
Incredibly, the Broncos hulk has run for 150 metres or more in six of his seven games.
Haas produced 200m-plus efforts in consecutive weeks against Manly (202m) and the Roosters (221m) in brutal performances that clinched his meteoric Origin debut.
Fittler is expected to unleash a fresh Haas around the 20-minute mark of Origin I.
The composition of Queensland’s bench was tailored to combat Haas’ potential impact, with Maroons selectors believing rookie and fellow Keebra product David Fifita’s fusion of muscle and power can counter his clubmate.
“We have some good young faces in our team,” Munster said. “I’m excited to see Joe (Ofahengaue) and David run out and bash some heads in.”
Of Queensland’s bench strategy, Lockyer said: “After the opening 20 minutes, you need your bench to make an impact, that’s why Fifita and Napa are there.”
ONE is the quietly confident wonder kid. The other oozes larrikin charm.
Together, the ultra-cool Kalyn Ponga and the carefree Cameron Munster are the attacking cocktail that will spearhead Queensland’s assault on the Blues in Origin I tomorrow night at Suncorp Stadium.
Former Maroons skipper Darren Lockyer believes Ponga and Munster will be 10-year Origin players and the pair plan to shake-up the Blues with a potent left-edge combo in the series opener.
While Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans will provide the direction, it is the unpredictability and gamebreaking instincts of Ponga and Munster that will have the Blues on Maroon alert.
Ponga’s freakish ability to ghost outside his defenders with an imperceptible turn of speed makes him a primary threat, but the rookie Maroons fullback believes fiveeighth Munster can be equally lethal attacking the Blues.
“I want him to do that (attack the Blues),” Ponga said.
“When he does that he’s terrifying. When Cam plays for the Storm and does that (runs the ball), I hate it.
“I just have to feed off Cam, it’s crazy what he can do with the ball. He’s so skilful, so anytime I can get the ball from him, that will make us dangerous.”
It is the body language of Ponga and Munster over the past week in Camp Maroon that underlines their precocious footballing gifts.
The 21-year-old Ponga has played just one Origin fixture but already has the respect of a 20-game Maroons veteran.
And while Munster, 24, has played just four Origin matches and one full series, his dominance in the No.6 jumper has upheld the legacy of Queensland’s iconic pivots Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston and Wally Lewis.
Groomed to be Billy Slater’s fullback successor at Melbourne, Munster always yearned to wear the Storm and Queensland No.1 jumper, but Ponga’s emergence has convinced him he is best suited in the frontline.
“I will end up staying at six,” Munster said.
“I’ve put too much weight on to be honest to go back to fullback.
“I played all my football at fullback and that’s all I knew.
“For me to change positions was a bit challenging but I’ve really embraced it and I’m really loving my footy at the moment.”