A LOAD OF BULL

Tough rookie channels Maroons hero to combat Blues trash talk

JAI Arrow idolised Gorden Tallis and the Maroons debutant has adopted the fighting words of The Raging Bull, scoffing at the prospect of a Blues Origin I belting by declaring: “Bring it on”.

NSW enforcer Reagan CampbellGillard has delivered the first brain explosion of the 2018 series, saying he

“can’t wait to get out there and start killing some people” in Origin I next Wednesday night.

As one of three forward debutants with Andrew McCullough and Felise Kaufusi, Arrow (right) expects Campbell-Gillard and the NSW pack to try and expose a weak link in the rookie Maroons trio.

Maroons great Tallis (left) never took a backward step and Titans ironman Arrow warned the Blues he won’t be spooked.

“I’ll take on all of them,” Arrow fired yesterday.

“I will love it if they target me. That’s what I’m here for.

“I want a challenge and as a league player that’s what we want is a challenge.

“If that’s the case (NSW trying to target him), well ... bring it on.

“My Origin hero was Gorden Tallis. I love the way he played, he was aggressive and that’s the sort of player I want to be.

“I want the boys to know that they cannot worry about me, that I can do my job and I don’t like to let anyone down.

“There is a long way to go (until kick-off) and I will stay relaxed and calm. When Wednesday comes, there will be a lot of emotion, but I’ll be pretty fired up when it comes.”

The NRL used CampbellGillard’s controversial quote to help promote the series opener on social media but have since taken it down.

If Campbell-Gillard (pictured) is plotting a seek-anddestroy mission, Maroons spearhead Dylan Napa is ready to fight fire with fire. At 194cm and 109kg, Napa is one Maroon with the size to combat the huge Campbell-Gillard.

“It will be good to come up against him,” Napa said.

“That’s what he (CampbellGillard) does, that’s the way he plays and he’s built for Origin.

“I’m ready to do what’s best for our team and that’s going up against their front-rowers, for sure.”

Maroons bench hulk Coen Hess said the Queensland pack is ready to meet the challenge set by Campbell-Gillard.

“We’ll have everyone in our team hoping to do that as well,” Hess said.

“It’s a very physical game so it’s a good challenge.

“Origin is all about the physicality so they’ll be coming at us and we’ll be doing the same thing.”