Qld Origin side 'more lethal in backs' - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Qld Origin side 'more lethal in backs'

By Wayne Heming 21/05/2006 08:10:56 PM Comments (0)

Queensland has the strike power to blow its Telstra Stadium Origin hoodoo to smithereens provided the Maroons young, inexperienced forwards can rise to the challenge in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Queensland's backline has scored a collective 40 tries in the first 10 NRL rounds this season, compared to just 17 by NSW - and centre Mark Gasnier has bagged seven of those.

Making the statistic even more compelling for Queensland is the fact that centre Brent Tate has played only twice this season, meaning the 40 tries have been scored by just six players.

Queensland have an abysmal Origin record at Telstra, with its best result in 10 Origins at the former Olympic Stadium since 1999 being a draw.

But the fact the Maroons have seven players with no previous Origin history at the ground, and the team's stunning try statistic, has boosted their confidence.

Together, rookie wingers Steve Bell (10) and Melbourne teenager Greg Inglis (9) - who looks like a mix of Mal Meninga and Gene Miles - have outscored the entire NSW back line.

Halfback Johnathan Thurston has also scored nine tries.

Coach Mal Meninga - Origin's highest point scorer - has a lethal back line at his disposal but the burning question is, can his forward pack, which contains three debutants, give them enough possession to weave their magic?

Centre Brent Tate, who could be slightly underdone with just 150 minutes of football this season and may yet switch spots with Bell, said Queensland's poor Telstra Stadium record had not been mentioned by the players.

"We haven't spoken about it all week and it hasn't been an issue really," said Tate.

"We've got to win there sometime."

Former front-rower Greg Dowling, part of Meninga's specialist coaching staff, said having so many new faces in the team meant Queensland's record at Telstra counted for little.

"These rookies aren't mentally scarred by it, that's the beauty of so many new faces," said Dowling.

"They won't carry the mental scars of the last couple of years.

"We haven't won a game at Telstra in 10 tries but these guys don't really give a damn about that."

Tate said he expected NSW hooker Danny Buderus (back strain) to play on Wednesday night even though Penrith's Luke Priddis had been rushed into the Blues' camp as insurance.

Pushed on the effect of losing Buderus after already being without Andrew Johns, Ben Kennedy, Anthony Minichiello and Trent Barrett, he admitted it would be a "huge blow" for the Blues to deal with so late in their preparation.

"He's their captain, he's inspirational, he's fantastic out of dummy half," said Tate.

"It would be a great help (to us) if he doesn't play but if he goes down they'll bring someone else in like Craig Wing or Luke Priddis and they've both played Test footy."

The Blues are tipped to thrust firebrand prop Mark O'Meley into the starting front-row alongside his Bulldog teammate Willie Mason to make sure Queensland's rookies receive a hot Origin reception.

Meninga is banking on hooker Cameron Smith and back-rowers David Stagg and lock Dallas Johnson to chop O'Meley and Mason down to size every time they charge through the middle of the ruck.

The young trio can get through a power of defence with stalwart props Petero Civoniceva and Steve Price and rookie second-rower Matt Scott assigned the job of carving out the hard yards against a NSW pack which clearly has a significant edge in experience.

While Queensland's sizzling back line looms as a match-winner working off Thurston and Darren Lockyer, NSW has an ace in its bench of Wing, Steve Menzies, Andrew Ryan and O'Meley or Brent Kite who have more experience than their rivals.

A few years ago Queensland struggled because most of its attack revolved around one player - Lockyer.

But with Thurston emerging as a class act in the past 12 months, Smith a terrific runner out of dummy half with a great kicking game and the diminutive Matt Bowen all capable of getting into first or second receiver, Queensland suddenly have attacking options on both sides of the ruck.

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