REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Tuesday, May 20, 2008

QUEENSLAND skipper Cameron Smith promised to turn rookie NSW halfback Peter Wallace’s dream State of Origin call-up into a nightmare.

With just 29 NRL games to his name, 22-year-old Wallace bolted into the Blues side for the series opener only after Newcastle ace Kurt Gidley was ruled out at the last minute with a fractured cheekbone.

When the Maroons were finished with Wallace, they vowed the red-haired novice was going to wish he had never heard of State of Origin.

“It is no secret it is his first match,” said Smith.

“I know all debutants get a bit of a working over, especially if you are playing in the halves.

“We know with Peter there, he is probably going to be their main kicker.

“So he is going to cop a bit of pressure. Being on debut he is certainly going to get some work thrown at him.”

The Maroons left their Sanctuary Cove camp for Sydney and their final training run at ANZ Stadium.

Queensland expected an aggressive and well-drilled NSW side with new coach Craig Bellamy imposing his strong work ethic throughout the week-long build-up.

While it was tough to find a weakness in the Blues line-up, the Maroons viewed Wallace as a potential Achilles heel.

But Smith was careful to watch his words, as the entire Queensland squad has all week, in an attempt not to provide NSW with any added motivation.

But the Maroons knew if they could take Wallace out of the equation they would go a long way to dismantling the NSW attack.