NSW won’t let rough-house tactics go unchecked in ‘21
BLUES hooker Damien Cook has ruled a line in the sand by declaring the entire NSW squad will stand up to the kind of rough-house tactics Queensland implemented last year.
NSW are preparing for halfback Nathan Cleary to be targeted by the Maroons defenders, a plan that Cook says his side won’t allow to go unchecked.
The Blues learned a lesson they haven’t forgotten during last year’s series with the treatment Maroons forward Jai
Arrow delivered to a concussed James Tedesco.
Arrow picked up and then dropped Tedesco when the NSW captain was knocked out in the first half of game three at Suncorp Stadium last year.
Arrow was fined by the NRL and later apologised for manhandling a clearly unwell Tedesco.
“Those two guys (Tedesco and Cleary) are the top two players in our team and that’s why they’re captain and vice-captain as well,’’ Cook said.
“We’ve got to back them 100 per cent in whatever they do in this game.
“It’s your halfback, you’ve got to look after your halfback and obviously your fullback.
“Hopefully we can lay a good platform for those two and the rest of the outside backs to do a good job.”
At the time, Blues coach Brad Fittler said Arrow had shown a lack of respect to Tedesco, who was left flat on his stomach after collecting the knee of Josh Papalii on a kick return.
The Blues haven’t forgotten the incident.
Asked if he anticipated the NSW players to respond to the incident on Wednesday night, Queensland coach Paul Green said: “Maybe – I’m not sure.
“To Jai’s defence I don’t think he realised how crook Teddy was at the time.
“I think if he knew that, he probably wouldn’t do that.
“But that’s what happens in Origin, it’s a fairly intense environment.
“That’s happened to Queensland players in the past also, so if they’re going to use that as motivation for this year, that’s up to them.’’