Water-logged Blues say wet good prep for sunny Suncorp
NSW insist the state's big wet is providing good State of Origin preparation for a dry Suncorp Stadium, as they deal with a deluge ahead of their trip to Queensland.
The Blues' opposed session with a St Marys' Ron Massey Cup side featuring Michael Jennings on Thursday was played in driving rain, with close to 60mm falling in the preceding 24 hours.
The Blue Mountains Grammar School field held up relatively well in the circumstances, but water was splashing up with every step taken by players.
In contrast, the Maroons were training on the clear and warm Sunshine Coast, and with no rain predicted for Origin I at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night.
But Blues players maintained the watery conditions could play into their favour, while still attempting to play the way they will in drier conditions.
"It provided more of an emphasis on taking care of the football, which is a good thing to have focus on in any game," fullback Dylan Edwards said.
"Those sorts of conditions, yes they're challenging to stick tackles and hold the football.
"But you have to focus on doing that anyway going up to Suncorp next week, regardless of if it is a dry or wet track."
Payne Haas again sat out Thursday's session, but the Blues are confident he will overcome a quad injury to play in the series opener.
In the 15 minutes before media were kicked out, Mitch Moses warmed up with a left edge of Angus Crichton, Latrell Mitchell and Brian To'o.
Nathan Cleary was on his preferred right side, alongside Liam Martin, Stephen Crichton and Zac Lomax.
NSW called in Gerard Sutton to referee the session, while St Marys had Jennings playing right centre and Stephen Crichton's brother Christian playing right wing.
Former NSW halfback Craig Gower was an assistant coach for St Marys, giving the Blues a touch of Origin experience to work against.
"They gave us a look at the shapes we think Queensland are going to be throwing," second-rower Hudson Young said.
"It's pretty cool too because Jenko and Gower did a lot in the game. So for them to give up their time and help us prepare.
"We can't control the weather and there are people out there doing it tough in NSW at the moment. We're thinking of them in this period."
NSW insist the state's big wet is providing good State of Origin preparation for a dry Suncorp Stadium, as they deal with a deluge ahead of their trip to Queensland.
The Blues' opposed session with a St Marys' Ron Massey Cup side featuring Michael Jennings on Thursday was played in driving rain, with close to 60mm falling in the preceding 24 hours.
The Blue Mountains Grammar School field held up relatively well in the circumstances, but water was splashing up with every step taken by players.
In contrast, the Maroons were training on the clear and warm Sunshine Coast, and with no rain predicted for Origin I at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night.
But Blues players maintained the watery conditions could play into their favour, while still attempting to play the way they will in drier conditions.
"It provided more of an emphasis on taking care of the football, which is a good thing to have focus on in any game," fullback Dylan Edwards said.
"Those sorts of conditions, yes they're challenging to stick tackles and hold the football.
"But you have to focus on doing that anyway going up to Suncorp next week, regardless of if it is a dry or wet track."
Payne Haas again sat out Thursday's session, but the Blues are confident he will overcome a quad injury to play in the series opener.
In the 15 minutes before media were kicked out, Mitch Moses warmed up with a left edge of Angus Crichton, Latrell Mitchell and Brian To'o.
Nathan Cleary was on his preferred right side, alongside Liam Martin, Stephen Crichton and Zac Lomax.
NSW called in Gerard Sutton to referee the session, while St Marys had Jennings playing right centre and Stephen Crichton's brother Christian playing right wing.
Former NSW halfback Craig Gower was an assistant coach for St Marys, giving the Blues a touch of Origin experience to work against.
"They gave us a look at the shapes we think Queensland are going to be throwing," second-rower Hudson Young said.
"It's pretty cool too because Jenko and Gower did a lot in the game. So for them to give up their time and help us prepare.
"We can't control the weather and there are people out there doing it tough in NSW at the moment. We're thinking of them in this period."
NSW insist the state's big wet is providing good State of Origin preparation for a dry Suncorp Stadium, as they deal with a deluge ahead of their trip to Queensland.
The Blues' opposed session with a St Marys' Ron Massey Cup side featuring Michael Jennings on Thursday was played in driving rain, with close to 60mm falling in the preceding 24 hours.
The Blue Mountains Grammar School field held up relatively well in the circumstances, but water was splashing up with every step taken by players.
In contrast, the Maroons were training on the clear and warm Sunshine Coast, and with no rain predicted for Origin I at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night.
But Blues players maintained the watery conditions could play into their favour, while still attempting to play the way they will in drier conditions.
"It provided more of an emphasis on taking care of the football, which is a good thing to have focus on in any game," fullback Dylan Edwards said.
"Those sorts of conditions, yes they're challenging to stick tackles and hold the football.
"But you have to focus on doing that anyway going up to Suncorp next week, regardless of if it is a dry or wet track."
Payne Haas again sat out Thursday's session, but the Blues are confident he will overcome a quad injury to play in the series opener.
In the 15 minutes before media were kicked out, Mitch Moses warmed up with a left edge of Angus Crichton, Latrell Mitchell and Brian To'o.
Nathan Cleary was on his preferred right side, alongside Liam Martin, Stephen Crichton and Zac Lomax.
NSW called in Gerard Sutton to referee the session, while St Marys had Jennings playing right centre and Stephen Crichton's brother Christian playing right wing.
Former NSW halfback Craig Gower was an assistant coach for St Marys, giving the Blues a touch of Origin experience to work against.
"They gave us a look at the shapes we think Queensland are going to be throwing," second-rower Hudson Young said.
"It's pretty cool too because Jenko and Gower did a lot in the game. So for them to give up their time and help us prepare.
"We can't control the weather and there are people out there doing it tough in NSW at the moment. We're thinking of them in this period."
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