Myles shouldering great expectation
Klem loves to be hated as brothers in arms unite
THEY might want to target Origin villain David Klemmer but Laurie Daley warns Queensland they will have to take on the other Blues to get at him.
Klemmer has the personality type to revel in his status in his first Origin game at Suncorp Stadium as one of the most disliked NSW players, Daley says.
“Klem understands that (he is a target). When you play in Queensland, you are placed under pressure at some time and it’s how you respond,’’ Daley said yesterday.
“It’s not left up to the individual. You make sure it’s a team effort. When any player is put under the pump, he’ll have 16 guys there supporting him. This team is built on some strong character and mateship.
“He’ll handle it. He’s played in Test matches, a grand final, Origins.’’
Asked if Klemmer should have shown more respect to Maroons veteran Corey Parker than to call him a “has been’’ early in Game Two, Daley said: “For me, it’s all about what happens on the field stays on the field.
“It surprised me people would say they want more respect because off the field he’s very respectful. Klem is respectful to me, my staff and more importantly to every member of the public who approaches him. I’m glad he’s on my side.
“When you play football, things can happen on the field. It’s a tough game.
“On the field he plays hard. Anyone who knows Klem, that’s who he is.
“He’s a respectful boy and he’s excited about the challenge at Suncorp.
“We’re the team travelling up here, the battlers from NSW and no one gives us a chance. There’s not a great deal of pressure on us.
“Queensland are at home (in Justin) Hodges’ last game, being such a great side people expect them to win.
“We’ll go out there, have a bit of fun, toss the footy around and see what happens.’’
While he was prepared to stretch the bounds of comedy about his public ambitions for NSW in the series decider, Daley made no effort to disguise that the Blues will be trying to force defensive misreads from first-game Queensland winger Dane Gagai.
Gagai hasn’t played on the wing for Newcastle this year.
“Everyone can be exposed in Origin when they are making their debuts.
“Any time you are on the wing and playing on the back foot, it’s hard.” PETERO Civoniceva believes Queensland’s forward pack need to earn respect back and is confident they will tomorrow night because of one man – Nate Myles.
Queensland’s most capped forward rates Myles as one of the toughest men ever to pull on a Maroons jersey and as influential as the likes of Origin greats Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston.
The Gold Coast skipper is heading into his 29th Origin game, which puts him just four behind Civoniceva’s Origin record among forwards, and is renowned among the Blues for being the barometer of intensity in the Queensland pack.
That is why Civoniceva has so much respect for Myles.
He has seen what he’s copped and what he has endured to keep turning up for the Maroons time and again.
“Just his toughness, his mental toughness.
“His physical toughness we all know about but just being able to push through the pain barrier we have seen time and time again,” Civoniceva said.
“People ask me all the time who would be your top Origin players you’ve been fortunate to play with.
“Of course I always rattle off Locky (Lockyer) and Johno (Thurston) but Nate is always there.
“He is always among the very top because of what I’ve seen him pushing his body through.
“He is such a big-hearted player and tremendous leader who probably doesn’t get the accolades that he deserves.
“He will be crucial to a big victory.”
The Maroons are confronting a monster Blues pack that bullied them in Origin II but Civoniceva knows there is a Queensland response coming at Suncorp Stadium.
“I’ve got tremendous belief in those guys they will be inspired to a huge performance,” Civoniceva said.
“Nothing is better than when your backs are against the wall and you’re wearing a Queensland jumper and you’re playing at home.
“No doubt there would be some individual motivation there to want to prove a few people wrong and there will be some great individual clashes out there.
“Inwardly, the big guys would be thinking this is the 80 minutes where I need to stand up and earn some respect and show what it’s all about playing for Queensland.”
Civoniceva agreed the Blues got the better of the Maroons forwards in Origin II, with the likes of Aaron Woods, James Tamou and David Klemmer leading NSW to a strong victory.
But, as Origin great Wally Lewis said last week, one good game does not create an Origin reputation.
“The test of any Origin player is how you back that up. That will be key,” Civoniceva said.
“I think it will be a real focus for the Queensland side trying to nullify what those guys brought to the NSW team.”