Blues to go on attack in Origin I: Smith - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Blues to go on attack in Origin I: Smith

By Melissa Woods 27/05/2009 02:38:32 PM Comments (0)

Queensland hooker Cameron Smith believes NSW coach Craig Bellamy will cast aside his usual game plan and launch an all-out attack in next week's opening State of Origin match in Melbourne.

Smith teams up with Bellamy to plot the downfall of Melbourne's NRL opponents, and the Storm skipper knows defence is normally the Blues coach's first concern.

But Smith believes NSW have shown their hand early by selecting opportunistic and creative backs such as Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings and his crafty opposite number, Tigers rake Robbie Farah.

And, with a record fourth successive series loss a possibility, he believes the Blues, who are up against Queensland's all-Australian backline, don't plan to die wondering.

"I think (Bellamy) is going to be a lot different to the way he usually plays," Smith said.

"He'd be the first to admit that he builds most of his sides on defence.

"Certainly he'll want a very strong defensive effort but I think he'll let them use the ball a bit this time.

"He's picked Jennings and Hayne and Farah, who don't mind trying a few things now and again even if they're not going to come off, just to test the opposition out.

"I think he'll be loosening the reins a little bit."

Smith also knows that Bellamy is a proud man, who wouldn't want to be remembered as the first Blues coach to be at the helm when they lost a fourth consecutive series.

Knowing how Queensland felt in the same situation in 2006, he said the NSW players will be desperate.

"I think Craig will be mentioning that just a couple of times to them," Smith joked.

"I know being in that position a few years ago we really didn't want to be known as the Maroons team who lost four for the first time, we wanted to be the team who could turn it all around.

"But that might be a thing, that we have a advantage in that we know how these guys are going to be feeling and the way they're going to be approaching the match."

Farah won the selection battle over the Bulldogs' Michael Ennis, and Smith said he was a worthy opponent after biding his time behind former NSW captain Danny Buderus, now playing in England.

"I think he's been playing really good football, probably the best he's played in his career," Smith said.

"I know he's been waiting for this opportunity for a couple of seasons now and you can certainly tell that he's really wanted it and if he brings that along to the game he's going to be one of their danger men.

"He's got a lot of strings to his bow but hopefully I'll be able to restrain him."

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