Bailey puts onus on the props - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Bailey puts onus on the props

By Todd Balym 01/06/2009 04:17:32 PM Comments (0)

NSW prop Luke Bailey says he and Brent Kite have scores to settle in the State of Origin arena and it involves taking down their Test teammates Steve Price and Petero Civoniceva.

The Blues brothers have yet to truly dominate the Maroons bookends in the Origin arena and after earning NSW recalls this year Bailey says the Kangaroos interchange pair want to show up the Australian starting props.

In four head-to-head Origin clashes between the front row partnerships, the NSW duo have only a dead-rubber victory in 2007 to their name.

"I think we've both got scores to settle I suppose," said Bailey on Monday.

"It's not going out there to try and be silly, it's going out there and try to lay a good platform.

"Price and Civoniceva over the last couple of years have just been going out there and doing their job and making yards for their teammates out wide and that is something we've got to do but just a bit better.

"I suppose the last three years Queensland have had the stars to finish off the tries but they've probably won the ground the last couple of series and that starts with Price and Civoniceva.

"We have to combat that and we have to take them on."

Bailey says he is especially fired up to perform after playing his last three Origins in 2007 off the bench.

"I've come off the bench before and I didn't like coming off the bench so I've got my jumper to start and I have to do something with it," he said.

"That starts with getting the momentum going forward and stopping their momentum as well."

Bailey's Gold Coast teammate Anthony Laffranchi is expected to be rushed into the starting side on Wednesday night in place of injured Test star Paul Gallen, with Luke O'Donnell tipped to play lock.

Coach Craig Bellamy is expected to go with his most experienced forwards for the fiery opening, leaving recalled utility Luke Lewis and Dragons rookies Michael Weyman and Justin Poore to provide impact off the bench.

Bailey says the Blues have enough aggression in their pack to take the fight up to the Maroons, tipping Ben Creagh to shed his nice-guy image and fire up for his Origin debut.

"I think he can snap. He is a bit like Ivan Milat, he has got that serial killer in him," said Bailey with a cheeky grin.

"But we will have to see if he can get fired up first. I've seen him fire up a couple of times."

Meanwhile Bailey has no concerns about the front row reinforcements on the bench, revealing close friends Poore and Weyman were waging their own war for bragging rights on debut.

"They're best mates and they're going to be fighting for each metre to see who gets the bragging rights about who has played better in Origin," said Bailey.

Manly Test forward Anthony Watmough will join the NSW camp on Tuesday to provide cover as 18th man.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news