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June 29, 2006
NSW prop Willie Mason predicts Queensland will find it hard to repeat their inspired Origin II performance in next Wednesday's series decider at Telstra Dome.
As NSW and Queensland each battled illness and injury on their second day in camp in Melbourne, Bulldogs giant Mason said it would be "amazing" if the Maroons replicated their criticism-inspired 30-6 win in game two at Suncorp Stadium on June 14.
But Maroons coach Mal Meninga responded by revealing he would call in Maroon royalty such as Wally Lewis, Allan Langer, Gorden Tallis and John Ribot to fire his troops up.
Mason said at Telstra Dome: "It's pretty hard to do the same thing twice. If they can come out with that sort of intensity and passion again, that will be unbelievable.
"It's pretty hard to match that sort of intensity they came out with for the whole 80 minutes.
"We are still pretty confident we can win. We just have to play a bit smarter. Just don't play dumb."
Meninga said he could understand Mason's point. "It is a challenge and a big task to come up with the same level of intensity and enthusiasm again. But, like NSW, we think we can improve, we think we can execute a bit better."
After Maroons players cited pre-match addresses from Paul Vautin and Mark Coyne as major reasons behind their 30-6 win at Suncorp Stadium on June 14, Meninga hinted Langer and Tallis would be presenting caps on match eve next week.
"I've got a few tricks up my sleeve," he said when asked about Lewis. "Gordie's in town, Alfie's in town, John Ribot is around. If they are here, we would be happy to have them come down and help out."
Mason also seemed to support the changes to the Blues side, including the axing of halves Braith Anasta and Brett Finch, when he said: "With Gowy (Craig Gower) and Benny Hornby, Bedsy (Danny Buderus), we're going to have a bit more confidence in our playmakers."
He revealed the Blues had formulated a plan to keep pressure off him in Origin II, but they couldn't adhere to it.
"We knew they were going to come out and pretty much attack me and that I was going to get smashed," Mason said.
"We had a bit of a game plan to stop that but we just didn't do it. We've been training pretty hard the last couple of days to combat that onslaught so it doesn't happen.
"It involves heaps of people, all 17 of us, not just me.
"As soon as we walked off that field, everyone was filthy on themselves. We can't wait for game three. We've got a chance to go out there and put a bit more pride in the NSW jersey.
"If you play one-out, four blokes are going to smash you. It doesn't matter who you are. You're still going to get smashed. We just have to play a bit smarter and support each other."
Meninga believes the NSW pack is better for Origin III.
"They're going to be a more motivated pack, so they're a bit more dangerous as well because of the embarrassment of what happened to them in game two," Meninga said.
"They're going to be pretty well fired up."
But Murray countered: "I was happy with our forwards last time, as I was in round one. No, I don't think we're any better or any stronger. We've picked pretty good players, players who are in form."
telegraph.com
NSW prop Willie Mason predicts Queensland will find it hard to repeat their inspired Origin II performance in next Wednesday's series decider at Telstra Dome.
As NSW and Queensland each battled illness and injury on their second day in camp in Melbourne, Bulldogs giant Mason said it would be "amazing" if the Maroons replicated their criticism-inspired 30-6 win in game two at Suncorp Stadium on June 14.
But Maroons coach Mal Meninga responded by revealing he would call in Maroon royalty such as Wally Lewis, Allan Langer, Gorden Tallis and John Ribot to fire his troops up.
Mason said at Telstra Dome: "It's pretty hard to do the same thing twice. If they can come out with that sort of intensity and passion again, that will be unbelievable.
"It's pretty hard to match that sort of intensity they came out with for the whole 80 minutes.
"We are still pretty confident we can win. We just have to play a bit smarter. Just don't play dumb."
Meninga said he could understand Mason's point. "It is a challenge and a big task to come up with the same level of intensity and enthusiasm again. But, like NSW, we think we can improve, we think we can execute a bit better."
After Maroons players cited pre-match addresses from Paul Vautin and Mark Coyne as major reasons behind their 30-6 win at Suncorp Stadium on June 14, Meninga hinted Langer and Tallis would be presenting caps on match eve next week.
"I've got a few tricks up my sleeve," he said when asked about Lewis. "Gordie's in town, Alfie's in town, John Ribot is around. If they are here, we would be happy to have them come down and help out."
Mason also seemed to support the changes to the Blues side, including the axing of halves Braith Anasta and Brett Finch, when he said: "With Gowy (Craig Gower) and Benny Hornby, Bedsy (Danny Buderus), we're going to have a bit more confidence in our playmakers."
He revealed the Blues had formulated a plan to keep pressure off him in Origin II, but they couldn't adhere to it.
"We knew they were going to come out and pretty much attack me and that I was going to get smashed," Mason said.
"We had a bit of a game plan to stop that but we just didn't do it. We've been training pretty hard the last couple of days to combat that onslaught so it doesn't happen.
"It involves heaps of people, all 17 of us, not just me.
"As soon as we walked off that field, everyone was filthy on themselves. We can't wait for game three. We've got a chance to go out there and put a bit more pride in the NSW jersey.
"If you play one-out, four blokes are going to smash you. It doesn't matter who you are. You're still going to get smashed. We just have to play a bit smarter and support each other."
Meninga believes the NSW pack is better for Origin III.
"They're going to be a more motivated pack, so they're a bit more dangerous as well because of the embarrassment of what happened to them in game two," Meninga said.
"They're going to be pretty well fired up."
But Murray countered: "I was happy with our forwards last time, as I was in round one. No, I don't think we're any better or any stronger. We've picked pretty good players, players who are in form."
telegraph.com
