Maroons want Hess to impress in decider
THE Hess Express will arrive early at Suncorp Stadium, with the Maroons formulating a plan to unleash Queensland’s colossus on the Blues.
Coen Hess will make his second State of Origin appearance in Wednesday’s decider at Suncorp Stadium, and after spending 57 minutes of his debut warming the bench, he is preparing for coach Kevin Walters to throw him into the furnace earlier in the piece.
It comes after former Maroons coach Mal Meninga this week challenged the Queensland bench to improve their performances in game three.
Interchange forwards Tim Glasby, Josh Papalii and Hess, along with starting prop Jarrod Wallace, had little impact in minimal minutes at ANZ Stadium.
“I guess I will have to be (ready),” Hess said.
“When you run out on the field it’s obviously a very fast game, you have to be ready to go.
“(Before game two, Walters) said to me it would depend on how things panned out but he wasn’t too sure when I would get on.
“Coming off the bench, it’s your responsibility to maintain what the starting pack have done.
“I guess there is a responsibility there to create an impact or spark so we will be doing that, just making those carries and making sure the ruck is nice and tight.
“NSW had a lot of joy coming through the middle the last two games.”
Hess, 20, was a controversial selection for Origin II after Cowboys coach Paul Green warned selectors to not blood him too early.
He was picked after just 22 NRL appearances.
Hess said Green clarified his comments and supported his selection after he was picked.
“I knew what Greeny was trying to get at,” he said.
“I’ve had a chat with Greeny and understood what he meant. I respect that, but I am here now.
“He congratulated me and said just play your normal game like I was for the Cowboys, and wished me all the best.
“I thought I handled it pretty well. I don’t read into the hype and that sort of stuff too much.
“It wasn’t on my mind during the game or the build-up to the game.”
Papalii was on limited running duties during training at Camp Maroon yesterday as he manages a knee injury.