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Wallace has full support of Blues' pack

By Todd Balym 15/05/2008 06:39:50 PM Comments (0)

NSW halfback Peter Wallace was bewildered at first, but forward Ryan Hoffman says the rookie is now "part of the furniture" and has the full support of the Blues' pack.

The 22-year-old Bronco is growing in confidence each day of NSW training, completing several extra sessions with Halfback of the Century Andrew Johns and five-eighth Greg Bird ahead of Wednesday's series opener at ANZ Stadium.

The Blues' halves completed a half-hour kicking session at Penrith with Johns on Thursday, and while the rest of the backline later joined in, winger Anthony Quinn was rested so he could overcome a minor bout of the flu.

NSW second-rowers Ryan Hoffman and Willie Mason are both amazed at the maturity of Wallace after just three days in camp and are ready to follow the instructions of the rookie who has played just 29 NRL games.

"It doesn't matter whether he is 19 years old or 39 years old, he is the halfback and he is the boss out there and he is leading us around the park," Hoffman said.

"Day one it was a non-issue, he was telling all the forwards where to go.

"On (day one) I think it was a bit bewildering for him, but since then he has been great and like part of the furniture, like he has been here for ages the way he has conducted himself in meetings and training.

"Birdy has been in rep football a while and is very confident ordering us around, but Peter Wallace has been a standout the way he has directed us around the park at training and we're really looking forward to playing with him.

"He has been real vocal in meetings too, pointing out certain things Broncos players do."

Assistant coach Johns isn't just working with Wallace and Bird, with Mason revealing the former NSW skipper is putting his extensive knowledge into the entire Blues attack, particularly how and where they run on the edges.

"(Johns) has a phenomenal football brain. He has some plays there that are pretty impressive. I'm going to take them back to the Roosters," said Mason, adding his full faith in halfback Wallace to execute those plays.

"You might see he (Wallace) is real nervous when he talks but when it comes to ballwork and all this kind of stuff he is pretty cool-headed.

"He is the first red-head to play for NSW ... We were trying to do the trivia the other night, who was the first red-head? And it's him."

Meanwhile Hoffman revealed NSW would plan for both Greg Inglis and Karmichael Hunt to play five-eighth next week, but ruled out making a phone call to his Melbourne teammate to ask him directly.

"I haven't spoken to any of them and dare say I won't," he said of his six Melbourne teammates in the Queensland side.

"Look we can only judge on what we think they will do and if they change we will adapt.

"I have no idea (if Inglis will play pivot). Maybe. Greg has been playing a lot of five-eighth for us and he is a very sound defender and I'm sure Karmichael is too.

"Whoever they put there they're still State of Origin players and they're there to do a job and so are we."

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