NSW Blues plead to stay together - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

NSW Blues plead to stay together

By David Beniuk 27/05/2010 09:30:55 AM Comments (0)

NSW's shattered stars have pleaded with selectors to keep them together so they can repay the faith in State of Origin II next month.

The vanquished Blues, who went down 28-24 to Queensland in Origin I on Wednesday night, believe they are building towards something after coming together in last year's game three victory.

"We had a quick meeting on our own after the game and that was the thing we've called for," NSW halfback Brett Kimmorley said.

"We can't tell the selectors what to do but we're going to stay very tight as a football side.

"If it's the same 17 we will come together and reassemble with some great togetherness.

"If it's not the same 17, then those who will be a part of game two from game one, our tightness will stay very strong."

Kimmorley said the Blues could go up a level and beat the Queenslanders, who outplayed them in most departments at ANZ Stadium.

"You put a lot of effort preparing for a footy game and this is a very special footy game so that was the thing we spoke about in there," he said.

"We were all pretty shattered to be honest, it's gut-wrenching to lose the first game when we knew how important it was.

"The important thing is the football side we probably assembled last year in game three, we've now played two games together.

"The tightness we're starting to form, the bond that we've got with each other and the trust you're going to get through situations (makes it) disappointing."

Winger Jarryd Hayne, arguably the Blues' best again, echoed the call for the side to be allowed to make amends despite agreeing a win at Suncorp Stadium on June 16 was probably mission impossible.

"It pretty much is," Hayne said.

"If there's a will there's a way.

"We'll give it our best shot so our backs are against the wall and it is a David and Goliath thing but that's what sport's all about and that's why you play the game, to come through this adversity."

Coach Craig Bellamy, who has a big influence on the side selected, signalled changes were unlikely.

"One thing we probably have been guilty of in the past is making a lot of changes - hopefully we won't do that," he said.

"Hopefully we can stick to most of the same team and improve in a couple of areas and go up there and give them a run for their money.

"It's not only a physical thing, it's a bit of a mental thing - at certain stages of the game we had to stand up and be counted and we didn't do that a couple of times tonight."

One positive for the Blues was the bright debut of teenage centre Jamal Idris, who scored a try on debut and didn't look out of place on the game's biggest stage.

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