TWELVE months ago, a bunch of amateurs from across the Hastings found themselves in Coffs Harbour, helping NSW as the Blues plotted to end Queensland’s eight-year State of Origin reign.
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Coach Phil Trembath rubbed shoulders with counterpart Laurie Daley at the Blues’ training camp as their teams went head to head in an opposed session.
It was the start of something special as NSW went on to win the series, and Trembath considers Group 3’s involvement as integral in the Blues’ preparation.
That box has long been ticked for Trembath, but he still loves the representative season and is backing the Blues to beat the Maroons in game one tonight.
Trembath thinks under-fire half Mitchell Pearce will star, scoring the first try of the contest before leading NSW to a 16-12 win at ANZ Stadium, Sydney.
“He might find himself in the right place at the right time,” Trembath says.
He doesn’t share the theory of requiring halves from the same club in the team.
“Queensland don’t have that. They’ve got Cooper Cronk from Melbourne and Johnathan Thurston from the Cowboys,” Trembath said.
“I find that talk of the club halves combination a copout at times.”
Trembath says he would have picked Josh Reynolds alongside Pearce.
The Blues could have benefitted from the incumbent’s mongrel and determination. “It’s what you want in Origin,” Trembath says of Reynolds’ playing style.
Origin time is always a highlight of the rugby league season for Trembath. Last year’s involvement with the Blues team makes it even more special.
He won’t forget a photo of him and Daley taken by the Port News.
“That’s my screensaver at home,” Trembath says.
“It [Origin] is something we look forward to every year. And we’re the title holders at the moment.”
Luck often plays a part in Origin matches, and Trembath says it will be no different tonight. “Anything is possible. Sometimes it can come down to the bounce of the ball,” he says.
Little Jasper Luck won’t be swung towards the southern state. He’ll support the Maroons again. Jasper is the nephew of former NRL player Micheal Luck, and was given the choice of which state he would support.
Origin time is always interesting for his parents, David and Tahney.
“Last year was a bit rough,” David Luck says.
He’s predicting Queensland to win a tight encounter tonight. “The Maroons, 16-12,” he says.
Tahney firmly believes NSW will get up. “Blues, 12-8,” she says.