Angus Crichton calls out Maroons' team-list mind games

West Australian

a day ago

Angus Crichton has accused Queensland of subterfuge by naming a hard-to-believe team list for State of Origin II, vowing to terrorise new half Tom Dearden regardless of which forward is beside him.
In a wide-ranging interview from NSW camp, Crichton also took a subtle jab at the Maroons for refusing to kick off to Spencer Leniu or Payne Haas in the Origin series opener.
But it is the Maroons' published line-up for Origin II in Perth next Wednesday that Crichton finds hardest to believe after the Blues' series-opening 18-6 win in Brisbane.
Aside from axing captain and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, Queensland coach Billy Slater has also dropped Jeremiah Nanai and Pat Carrigan back to the bench.
The changes leave Kurt Capewell listed to start at second row and Trent Loiero at lock, but Crichton is having none of the Maroons' claims.
"Surely Nanai's not on the bench and surely Patty's not on the bench as well," Crichton said.
"I think they're trying to play mind games with us by naming those guys there. I can't see Patty or Jeremiah not starting. He (Nanai) was one of their best last game.
"They played all right in that last game. Jeremiah was a point of difference for them on the kick chase, and some of his defence was good.
"Then Patty, he's won the Wally Lewis Medal before, so it goes without saying ... they might be trying to play mind games, but we're more focused on ourselves."
Regardless of what the Maroons do, Crichton is looking forward to getting at Dearden.
The NSW second-rower earned man-of-the-series honours last year after the way he physically went after Cherry-Evans, and he plans to target Dearden in the same way.
"It's my job as a back-rower to try and terrorise the opposition halfback," Crichton said.
"The more I can get into a physical battle with them, the less we see them.
"Some of my best games have been when I've done that, so I'm looking to recreate that with Tommy. I really like him, but it's different when you're playing.
"He is a strong little bastard, so he will be running hard. It's a big call for Queensland, he is stepping into the No.7 jersey for the first time.
"I know he will be able to bring his best. I just have to make sure I am bringing better."
The other major talking point from Origin I was the Maroons' decision to not send a kick-off in the direction of Leniu, who has become arch-enemy No.1 in Queensland.
Queensland kicked off to the left and away from Payne Haas for the game's first two restarts, setting up Mitch Barnett and Max King for the return runs.
They then sent the next two kick-offs to the right and away from an infuriated Leniu after he had entered the field, again setting up King for the returns.
Slater claimed this week it was a decision made "on the run" due to the Maroons being stripped for numbers, but Crichton suggested he knew it was a premeditated call.
"I know it was a deliberate decision," Crichton said.
"I've heard that from people that were in there. They were told don't kick it to Payne (Haas) or Spencer.
"Every rugby league fan wants to see (Leniu take the return), so hopefully they'll do it this time."