FIGHT TO THE LAST
QUEENSLAND has vowed to dig deep tonight to avoid a Blues’ clean sweep of Origin. Pride is on the line at Suncorp Stadium after NSW ended the Maroons’ epic eight- series run last month. The NRL used yesterday’s final media call for Origin captains Cameron Smith and Paul Gallen as an opportunity to promote the “Rise for Alex” round, which aims to raise money for injured Newcastle forward Alex McKinnon.
ORIGIN halves Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson can expect a double dose of attention this week with the pair in the eye of the Melbourne Storm.
The Canterbury duo, as well as Josh Morris, are set to back up from State of Origin duty tonight with an NRL clash against Melbourne at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
The Storm have five players – Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith, Will Chambers and Ryan Hoffman involved in Game Three of the series.
Melbourne hope they can take advantage of Reynolds and Hodkinson feeling the effects of another brutal Origin encounter.
“They will probably get a lot of traffic thrown at them on Wednesday night,” Storm back- rower Tohu Harris said.
“If they play on Saturday they might be a little bit more tired than they usually are.
They’re quality players though so I’m sure they’ll have their bodies ready to go against us.”
Melbourne are desperate to rebound from a disappointing 24- 12 loss to St George Illawarra and maintain their spot in the NRL top eight.
The Bulldogs are joint competition leaders on 24 points, although hold down third on percentages, while the Storm are eighth on 20 points – the same as 10th- placed Wests Tigers in a packed ladder.