Prince not sweating on Lockyer decision - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Prince not sweating on Lockyer decision

10/02/2010 09:13:39 PM Comments (0)

Selection-scarred halfback Scott Prince isn't sweating on Darren Lockyer making a decision on his representative future.

While Queensland fans hold their breath, Prince, his logical Origin replacement, is getting on with life.

He and Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston will go head-to-head for the Indigenous All Stars against NRL All Star pairing of Lockyer and Kiwi star Benji Marshall at Skilled Park on Saturday night.

It could well be a sneak preview of Queensland's halves for this year's State of Origin series with the Maroons shooting for a fifth straight win.

But Prince is not taking anything for granted after past representative let downs.

He was snubbed by Queensland selectors as Lockyer's replacement for the first game of the 2008 series when he was in career-best form when Karmichael Hunt played five-eighth outside of Thurston in the 18-10 loss.

Selectors buckled to form and public pressure, picking Prince for the return game in the No.7 with Thurston shifting to five-eighth.

The result was a 30-0 romp by the Maroons.

Prince, who broke his arm in the first half of game three, said on Wednesday he hadn't been sticking pins in a Lockyer doll and chanting "retire, retire".

"It's too early to predict," he said when asked about his chances of returning to Origin if Lockyer pulled the pin.

"If he decides to retire, we'll have to wait and see what they (selectors) do.

"But I'm sure if he's still playing come May, he'll be selected.

"I don't have a Lockyer voodoo doll to stick pins in, but I wish I did," he joked.

Surprisingly Prince nominated Marshall as the man most likely to call the shots for the NRL side on Saturday night.

"They're different players but you would have to say Benji will call the direction play and Locky will play the long side as much as he can," he said.

"But the option is there to shift one to the other because both can play second receiver just as good as each other."

NRL All Star fullback Billy Slater was still unable to declare himself a starter as the Indigenous side lost utility PJ Marsh (back), replaced by Roosters redhead Ben Jones.

Slater is hoping to play.

"I'm still not 100 per cent and I have got to be close to 100 per cent if I am going to play this game," the Storm custodian said.

"While I'd love to play in this game, I have got to be pretty smart about it too."

Marshall, who seemed quietly confident Slater would shake off his ankle injury, said the All Star clash was as close as he would get to experience State of Origin style football.

"Not being able to play internationally with the Australian guys or State of Origin, I guess this is my State of Origin," he said.

"To get to play with these guys is something special for me, it is a first and something I will never forget."

He was excited about teaming up with Lockyer after always being on the opposite side of the field.

"After being on the other side of the field and watching him carve us up it's going to great to be on his side for once," he said.

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