Cameron Smith calls on Queensland to use dodgy tactic to combat NSW in State of Origin 3
The Maroons legend wants to see a response after they were bullied in Game 2.
Queensland legend Cameron Smith has called on the Maroons to get dirty and bend the rules in the State of Origin decider on Wednesday night to combat the NSW forward pack. The Queenslanders were bullied by NSW in Game 2 at the MCG, and nothing epitomised it more than when Latrell Mitchell shoved Reece Walsh after the play was dead and none of the Maroons players did anything about it.
Queensland have vowed not to be pushed around again in Game 3 at Suncorp Stadium, and Smith reckons they should resort to some dodgy tactics to make sure the Blues don't get their way. “Rough them up, get amongst them, push the boundaries like they did (NSW) in Game 2,” he said on SEN radio on Tuesday.
“You look back over the last however long you want to look back at the game of rugby league, there’s been no team that has gone on to win a big game like this one tomorrow night without pushing the boundaries of the rules. Whether we receive or kick off… they need to run like they’ve been shot out of a cannon.
“They need to be returning the ball like they want to run over someone and really make an impact for their footy side and say ‘hey look this is the way things are going to go for our team tonight’. If we win the toss, I’d be kicking off, and say hey boys let’s send a message right now, not only to the opposition but we’re going to send a message to the referee and we’re sending a message to the crowd about this is the way this team’s going to play tonight and put it on the Blues."
Fellow Maroons great Corey Parker said Patrick Carrigan needs to be the one to send a message by targeting Broncos teammate Payne Haas. “It’s time for Carrigan to take on Payne Haas. Rip his f***ing head off. Seriously,” Parker told the Courier Mail.
“In Origin, the friendship gets put aside for 80 minutes.... Pat should make a statement. Fly out of the line and level Payne. Whack him. They are best mates. but that’s what Origin is about, mate versus mate.”
Calls for Felise Kaufusi to start for Queensland in Origin 3
According to leading journalist David Riccio, Billy Slater should consider promoting Felise Kaufusi to the starting side to make sure the Maroons don't get bullied. “He should be starting, he’s the statement guy, he’s the hitman and he’s the sniper,” Riccio said on NRL 360 on Tuesday night.
“If I’m, and I’m not (coaching Queensland), Felise should be starting this game. (Kurt) Capewell and (Jeremiah) Nanai are on the edges, I’d swap one of those guys. Play Kaufusi, he’s you’re statement guy... we’ve seen it all before. He’s started in 14 of 17 Origin matches and he’s playing off the bench. It’s the same reason they went down the path of considering Josh Papalii, they needed a hitman and Kaufusi is the guy.”
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According to reports, Slater is considering using hooker Harry Grant and prop Moeaki Fotuaika in his starting side, which would push Ben Hunt and Lindsay Collins back to the bench. Whoever ends up starting, Gorden Tallis reckons the Maroons need to stop Haas.
“I wouldn’t say take his head off.... but certainly stopping Payne Haas. He was absolutely outstanding (in Game 2),” Tallis said. "If it’s a targeted question, I think it needs to be Lindsay Collins. You’re the big dog now, the biggest in the team, he’s six-foot-four. You’re our leader, take our first carry and you lay the platform and (they) will follow.”
