Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Meninga focused on Origin opener

Queensland coach Mal Meninga
Meninga has won the last three State of Origin series with Queensland

Queensland coach Mal Meninga has told his players that it is crucial they win the first State of Origin match against New South Wales on Wednesday.

The Maroons are bidding for a fourth successive victory, even though they lost the first game of the three-match series in 2006 and 2008.

"We must start well - if we don't it puts a lot of pressure on us going into the Sydney game," said Meninga.

The game takes place at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne at 1030 BST.

Meninga added: "I guess for both sides it's an important game, game one is set up very well, but our focus is on starting well.

Australian sporting crowds like an underdog and that's what we are on Wednesday

NSW boss Craig Bellamy

"It would be a massive achievement if we won four in a row, but we don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves."

The series opener is being held outside of Sydney or Brisbane for the first time in the 30th year of State of Origin.

NSW boss Craig Bellamy is hoping that the neutrals in Melbourne will cheer his side on against hot favourites Queensland.

"There will be a lot of them just going to watch the sport as an event," said Bellamy.

"Some of them will know a little bit about our game and some of them won't, but one thing about the Australian sporting crowds, they like an underdog.

"We'll certainly be the underdog on Wednesday so perhaps we might have a little bit more support there than some people think."

Queensland (from): Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Israel Folau, Darren Lockyer (captain), Johnathan Thurston; Steve Price, Cameron Smith, Petero Civoniceva, Ashley Harrison, Sam Thaiday, Dallas Johnson, Karmichael Hunt, Ben Hannant, Nate Myles, Michael Crocker.

New South Wales (from): Kurt Gidley (captain), Jarryd Hayne, Jamie Lyon, Michael Jennings, James McManus, Terry Campese, Peter Wallace; Brent Kite, Robbie Farah, Luke Bailey, Ben Creagh, Luke O'Donnell, Anthony Laffranchi, Craig Wing, Justin Poore, Luke Lewis, Michael Weyman.

ะพ 3:42 AM

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