Granty
20-05-2006, 12:04 PM
http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200605/s1642868.htm
Blues' O'Donnell not going easy on Cowboy mates
New South Wales lock Luke O'Donnell said his friendship with his North Queensland team-mates would be forgotten in next Wednesday night's State of Origin series opener.
O'Donnell will be making his Origin debut for the Blues, and will face a Maroons side which includes fellow Cowboys Johnathan Thurston, Matt Bowen, Carl Webb and Matthew Scott.
He said it would be a strange feeling lining up against them.
"When you think about it it is, but come Wednesday night they're just going to be the opposition and I'll be doing my best to stop them," he said.
"So I think that's that really and I'm just looking forward to it."
It was a busy day for both sides today, with the Blues players presented with their jerseys in Sydney.
It was a proud moment for Parramatta winger Eric Grothe, who will make his Origin debut after being selected for the Blues six years ago but missing the series with a knee injury.
"It's a big honour, I didn't get presented with a jersey last time so it's definitely a big thing to remember."
Grothe comes in for the injured Matt Cooper, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
New South Wales centre Mark Gasnier, who has been cleared to play after passing a fitness test on his injured hip, said his game would not be affected by the absence of his usual centre partner.
Timana Tahu has been moved from wing to centre to cover for Cooper, and Gasnier said he would be able to adjust to the change.
"[I am] very disappointed that he's not there because he's a great mate and a great player," he said.
"But in saying that, I don't think centre-wise it affects you too much because one's left and one's right. But I think halves affect the centres a bit but not so much centres on centres."
Further north, Queensland coach Mal Meninga said the side's rookies were showing few signs of nerves ahead of the match.
The squad left its Sunshine Coast camp today to attend an annual sponsors lunch in Brisbane.
Meninga told the crowd he was confident the team's debutants would do the job next week.
"I think everyone realises that this is a team picked on form, and those seven debutants deserve to be in the footy side," he said.
"I've got no doubt they are going to go out there and play really well. We've got a lot of experience in the side and that's going to help them do that, so like I said everything is going to plan at the moment."
Meninga said the side was yet to really talk about the game this week.
The Maroons' week has included a bonding session, a fan day in the Wide Bay area, watching the Anthony Mundine-Danny Green fight on Wednesday night, and the sponsors' lunch today.
Meninga said next Wednesday night's match had not been the focus of the camp so far.
"Things are going really well," he said.
"We are not really talking about footy at the moment, just sort of getting together, having a reasonably good time, enjoying each other's company.
"We'll crank things up shortly."
Blues' O'Donnell not going easy on Cowboy mates
New South Wales lock Luke O'Donnell said his friendship with his North Queensland team-mates would be forgotten in next Wednesday night's State of Origin series opener.
O'Donnell will be making his Origin debut for the Blues, and will face a Maroons side which includes fellow Cowboys Johnathan Thurston, Matt Bowen, Carl Webb and Matthew Scott.
He said it would be a strange feeling lining up against them.
"When you think about it it is, but come Wednesday night they're just going to be the opposition and I'll be doing my best to stop them," he said.
"So I think that's that really and I'm just looking forward to it."
It was a busy day for both sides today, with the Blues players presented with their jerseys in Sydney.
It was a proud moment for Parramatta winger Eric Grothe, who will make his Origin debut after being selected for the Blues six years ago but missing the series with a knee injury.
"It's a big honour, I didn't get presented with a jersey last time so it's definitely a big thing to remember."
Grothe comes in for the injured Matt Cooper, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
New South Wales centre Mark Gasnier, who has been cleared to play after passing a fitness test on his injured hip, said his game would not be affected by the absence of his usual centre partner.
Timana Tahu has been moved from wing to centre to cover for Cooper, and Gasnier said he would be able to adjust to the change.
"[I am] very disappointed that he's not there because he's a great mate and a great player," he said.
"But in saying that, I don't think centre-wise it affects you too much because one's left and one's right. But I think halves affect the centres a bit but not so much centres on centres."
Further north, Queensland coach Mal Meninga said the side's rookies were showing few signs of nerves ahead of the match.
The squad left its Sunshine Coast camp today to attend an annual sponsors lunch in Brisbane.
Meninga told the crowd he was confident the team's debutants would do the job next week.
"I think everyone realises that this is a team picked on form, and those seven debutants deserve to be in the footy side," he said.
"I've got no doubt they are going to go out there and play really well. We've got a lot of experience in the side and that's going to help them do that, so like I said everything is going to plan at the moment."
Meninga said the side was yet to really talk about the game this week.
The Maroons' week has included a bonding session, a fan day in the Wide Bay area, watching the Anthony Mundine-Danny Green fight on Wednesday night, and the sponsors' lunch today.
Meninga said next Wednesday night's match had not been the focus of the camp so far.
"Things are going really well," he said.
"We are not really talking about footy at the moment, just sort of getting together, having a reasonably good time, enjoying each other's company.
"We'll crank things up shortly."