New South Wales nice Benny Elias is shocked by the Blues’ choice to copy Queensland’s one-two punch at hooker.
Blues coach Brad Fittler introduced his squad to tackle the Maroons for Sport II on Monday with Api Koroisau set to start out within the No.9 jersey and Damien Cook dinner coming off the bench.
Elias believes Fittler’s choice is a daring name and from the skin it seems as if the Blues are taking notes from the Maroons’ e book.
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“Look it was very fascinating,” Elias instructed Sky Racing’s Massive Sports activities Breakfast.
“Following Queensland clearly their recreation plan having two hookers in a aspect was unparalleled in our day till not too long ago.
“Two hookers in a aspect of 17 is a really, very huge name.
“Koroisau he’s taking part in good soccer there with the Panthers and clearly Damien Cook dinner hasn’t set the world on fireplace sadly, he’s taking a leaf out of the Queensland e book which I hate doing.
“I hate following what they do however suppose in determined instances you do determined issues and that’s what he’s doing right here, you’ve obtained two nines in a squad of 17.”
Elias was additionally involved with Koroisau’s lack of expertise at Origin stage, because the Penrith hooker solely has one Blues recreation beneath his belt in comparison with Cook dinner’s 14.
“What you ask there may be the consistency that No.9 has along with his friends round him,” Elias mentioned.
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“In such a short while to have that mixture with the brand new No.9 now coming in.
“It’s going to be a really huge ask for the NSW aspect, nevertheless I imagine the teaching workforce will be sure that they attempt to make that as easy as potential — however you’ll be able to’t beat expertise.
“Queensland got here in final 12 months, I do know they misplaced the sequence final 12 months however they went in constant, they all the time had two quantity nines and so they knew precisely what occurred.”
The previous Blues hooker drew to Queensland famous person Harry Grant for example of how Queensland’s one-two punch fits their recreation plan.
“When you may have a alternative come on like Harry Grant, who I imagine is the perfect No.9 on this planet, to have him on the bench and put him on you understand that’s going to be a strike energy,” Elias defined.
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“You understand that’s an enormous play for you and you understand that your workforce’s simply going to go on the again of that.
“I simply thought in recreation one, when he got here on should you current a knife you’ve obtained to supply a gun.
“You’ve obtained to be sure that this bloke doesn’t go anyplace and do what they did to us with Nathan Cleary and simply completely mesmerise him with a lot defence and don’t give him an inch and swiftly their momentum stops.
“I simply thought we lacked that a little bit bit and sadly it did show dividends for the Queensland aspect and right here we are actually 1-0 down.”
All eyes shall be on Fittler this Sunday the place his Blues aspect will look to redeem their recreation one loss at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
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