NSW back attacking approach for Origin II

Jun 16, 2017 - 5:54 AM Not even ANZ Stadium's slippery surface will stop the ball-playing approach of a NSW forward pack hell bent on clinching their second State of Origin series in 11 years.

The Blues' big men moved the Queensland forwards around and wore them down early in the series-opening 28-4 win in Brisbane, a feat that could be made much tougher on Wednesday night by dewy conditions.

Typically, matches played at the Olympic stadium have far less ball movement and a slower grind through the middle, compared to the fast pace and dryer nature of Suncorp Stadium.

But the Blues' forwards say they won't be erring from their winning formula, regardless of the conditions.

"We had a really good game plan up there in game one and we will try and use that again," interchange forward Jake Trbojevic said.

"I don't think conditions come too much into it unless it's pouring or that sort of thing.

"We'll probably do similar sort of stuff."

In Brisbane, the Blues' two first-half tries came through an interchange of passing in the middle involving forwards as they stamped their authority on the match.

The NSW big men also provided 24 passes to Queensland's 16, including an extra two offloads, according to Fox Sports Stats.

However that kind of attacking approach has often proved more difficult at the sluggish ANZ Stadium, where only around half as many points have been scored in the past five years of Origin matches compared to in Brisbane.

But fellow bench forward David Klemmer said that wasn't a concern for NSW.

"It shouldn't affect the way we're playing," he said.

"We've just got to play like we did game one. We can't go away from anything we did in that game. Nothing should change."

What will change are their opposing forwards.

The Maroons have named four new big men for the clash, including three debutants.

Queensland coach Kevin Walters confirmed on Friday that Gold Coast prop Jarrod Wallace would start, with Coen Hess and Tim Glasby coming off the bench.

Trbojevic and Klemmer both predicted nerves for the rookies, but refused to pour any more fuel on the Glasby fire after criticism of his selection by Sydney media.

"He will take (the headlines) to his advantage," Klemmer said.

"I would be a bit frustrated. It would fire me up, so I know he'll be looking for a big game next Wednesday."

Meanwhile, Tyson Frizell (ribs) was the only Blues player to train with restricted contact in Friday's last field session before they split for the weekend. However, he is no doubt to play.

Source: AAP






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