Latest news with #ChrisClose
The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Won't beat them for 100 years': Legend warns Maroons
Queensland great Chris Close has a stunning warning for the current Maroons squad if there is not a massive change in outlook and performance in Perth. "If we use the way we played in game one as a launching pad for game two we won't beat them for another 100 years," Close told AAP. "If they can't find it within themselves to lift to the standard required in State of Origin then they are going to find it difficult to win." While Close has resorted to hyperbole to make a point, the words of the man of the match in the first two Origin games in 1980 and 1981 should resonate with the current Maroons, who were dire in the series-opening 18-6 loss to NSW in Brisbane. Queensland must win on Wednesday night to keep the series alive and avoid losing four Origin games in a row for the first time since 1996-1997. Close backed the selectors' decision to axe former Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans as half and replace him with North Queensland co-captain Tom Dearden. The former Maroons team manager said Dearden was the only player that went "above their club standard to a level that is called State of Origin" in Brisbane when he came off the bench and sparked the attack. Close said it wasn't just Cherry-Evans amongst the spine members who failed to fire. "There are a couple of other players that are very lucky to be coming back," he fired. "Kalyn Ponga, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant were all very ordinary in game one, three of our most important players. "I don't care how far you go back and how many games they won or what they did, we are talking about this week. They need to understand they are judged for each game, not for the collective of the season. "If we don't have players that can lift and play above the club standard that is required to play Origin and put their bodies on the line then they don't deserve to be in the team." Close's comments come from the right place. There is no more passionate Queenslander than the man known as "Choppy". "I get stirred up because I hate losing," he said. "NSW have a really good team and are playing with a spirit that NSW doesn't display that often, but this team has it."(For Queensland) we have got to lose that mindset that the world stops when our good players are forced to retire. "Let's find another mindset where we find a player who will take over and give us what we need - a performance at a level that is way above what they give on a week-in and week-out basis." Hooker Grant had one of his poorest games at Suncorp Stadium. "I've played enough footy over the years to know what I need to do and know what's important going into a big game like an Origin," Grant said this week when asked about his game one display. "I probably went away from that a little bit and it flowed into the game." Munster will captain the side for the first time in Perth. "I need to go out there and be the best player for this team and the best version of myself," he said. "I will do everything I can and get the ball in my hands to win this game, that's pretty much why I'm out there." Queensland great Chris Close has a stunning warning for the current Maroons squad if there is not a massive change in outlook and performance in Perth. "If we use the way we played in game one as a launching pad for game two we won't beat them for another 100 years," Close told AAP. "If they can't find it within themselves to lift to the standard required in State of Origin then they are going to find it difficult to win." While Close has resorted to hyperbole to make a point, the words of the man of the match in the first two Origin games in 1980 and 1981 should resonate with the current Maroons, who were dire in the series-opening 18-6 loss to NSW in Brisbane. Queensland must win on Wednesday night to keep the series alive and avoid losing four Origin games in a row for the first time since 1996-1997. Close backed the selectors' decision to axe former Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans as half and replace him with North Queensland co-captain Tom Dearden. The former Maroons team manager said Dearden was the only player that went "above their club standard to a level that is called State of Origin" in Brisbane when he came off the bench and sparked the attack. Close said it wasn't just Cherry-Evans amongst the spine members who failed to fire. "There are a couple of other players that are very lucky to be coming back," he fired. "Kalyn Ponga, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant were all very ordinary in game one, three of our most important players. "I don't care how far you go back and how many games they won or what they did, we are talking about this week. They need to understand they are judged for each game, not for the collective of the season. "If we don't have players that can lift and play above the club standard that is required to play Origin and put their bodies on the line then they don't deserve to be in the team." Close's comments come from the right place. There is no more passionate Queenslander than the man known as "Choppy". "I get stirred up because I hate losing," he said. "NSW have a really good team and are playing with a spirit that NSW doesn't display that often, but this team has it."(For Queensland) we have got to lose that mindset that the world stops when our good players are forced to retire. "Let's find another mindset where we find a player who will take over and give us what we need - a performance at a level that is way above what they give on a week-in and week-out basis." Hooker Grant had one of his poorest games at Suncorp Stadium. "I've played enough footy over the years to know what I need to do and know what's important going into a big game like an Origin," Grant said this week when asked about his game one display. "I probably went away from that a little bit and it flowed into the game." Munster will captain the side for the first time in Perth. "I need to go out there and be the best player for this team and the best version of myself," he said. "I will do everything I can and get the ball in my hands to win this game, that's pretty much why I'm out there." Queensland great Chris Close has a stunning warning for the current Maroons squad if there is not a massive change in outlook and performance in Perth. "If we use the way we played in game one as a launching pad for game two we won't beat them for another 100 years," Close told AAP. "If they can't find it within themselves to lift to the standard required in State of Origin then they are going to find it difficult to win." While Close has resorted to hyperbole to make a point, the words of the man of the match in the first two Origin games in 1980 and 1981 should resonate with the current Maroons, who were dire in the series-opening 18-6 loss to NSW in Brisbane. Queensland must win on Wednesday night to keep the series alive and avoid losing four Origin games in a row for the first time since 1996-1997. Close backed the selectors' decision to axe former Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans as half and replace him with North Queensland co-captain Tom Dearden. The former Maroons team manager said Dearden was the only player that went "above their club standard to a level that is called State of Origin" in Brisbane when he came off the bench and sparked the attack. Close said it wasn't just Cherry-Evans amongst the spine members who failed to fire. "There are a couple of other players that are very lucky to be coming back," he fired. "Kalyn Ponga, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant were all very ordinary in game one, three of our most important players. "I don't care how far you go back and how many games they won or what they did, we are talking about this week. They need to understand they are judged for each game, not for the collective of the season. "If we don't have players that can lift and play above the club standard that is required to play Origin and put their bodies on the line then they don't deserve to be in the team." Close's comments come from the right place. There is no more passionate Queenslander than the man known as "Choppy". "I get stirred up because I hate losing," he said. "NSW have a really good team and are playing with a spirit that NSW doesn't display that often, but this team has it."(For Queensland) we have got to lose that mindset that the world stops when our good players are forced to retire. "Let's find another mindset where we find a player who will take over and give us what we need - a performance at a level that is way above what they give on a week-in and week-out basis." Hooker Grant had one of his poorest games at Suncorp Stadium. "I've played enough footy over the years to know what I need to do and know what's important going into a big game like an Origin," Grant said this week when asked about his game one display. "I probably went away from that a little bit and it flowed into the game." Munster will captain the side for the first time in Perth. "I need to go out there and be the best player for this team and the best version of myself," he said. "I will do everything I can and get the ball in my hands to win this game, that's pretty much why I'm out there."
ABC News
13 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Maroons great Chris Close says Queensland won't beat NSW 'for another 100 years' with same effort from Origin I
Queensland great Chris Close has a stunning warning for the current Maroons squad if there is not a massive change in outlook and performance in Perth. "If we use the way we played in game one as a launching pad for game two we won't beat them for another 100 years," Close told AAP. "If they can't find it within themselves to lift to the standard required in State of Origin then they are going to find it difficult to win." While Close has resorted to hyperbole to make a point, the words of the man of the match in the first two Origin games in 1980 and 1981 should resonate with the current Maroons, who were dire in the series-opening 18-6 loss to NSW in Brisbane. Queensland must win on Wednesday night to keep the series alive and avoid losing four Origin games in a row for the first time since 1996-1997. Close backed the selectors' decision to axe former Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans as half and replace him with North Queensland co-captain Tom Dearden. The former Maroons team manager said Dearden was the only player that went "above their club standard to a level that is called State of Origin" in Brisbane when he came off the bench and sparked the attack. Close said it wasn't just Cherry-Evans amongst the spine members who failed to fire. "There are a couple of other players that are very lucky to be coming back," he fired. "Kalyn Ponga, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant were all very ordinary in game one, three of our most important players. "I don't care how far you go back and how many games they won or what they did, we are talking about this week. They need to understand they are judged for each game, not for the collective of the season. Close's comments come from the right place. There is no more passionate Queenslander than the man known as "Choppy". "I get stirred up because I hate losing," he said. "NSW have a really good team and are playing with a spirit that NSW doesn't display that often, but this team has it. ABC Sport will have live blog coverage of the State of Origin series. "(For Queensland) we have got to lose that mindset that the world stops when our good players are forced to retire. "Let's find another mindset where we find a player who will take over and give us what we need — a performance at a level that is way above what they give on a week-in and week-out basis." Hooker Grant had one of his poorest games at Suncorp Stadium. "I've played enough footy over the years to know what I need to do and know what's important going into a big game like an Origin," Grant said this week when asked about his game one display. "I probably went away from that a little bit and it flowed into the game." Munster will captain the side for the first time in Perth. "I need to go out there and be the best player for this team and the best version of myself," he said. "I will do everything I can and get the ball in my hands to win this game, that's pretty much why I'm out there." AAP
7NEWS
13 hours ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Queensland issued grim warning ahead of State of Origin II as Cameron Munster to captain
Queensland great Chris Close has a stunning warning for the current Maroons squad if there is not a massive change in outlook and performance for State of Origin II in Perth. 'If we use the way we played in game one as a launching pad for game two we won't beat them for another 100 years,' Close said. 'If they can't find it within themselves to lift to the standard required in State of Origin then they are going to find it difficult to win.' Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today While Close has resorted to hyperbole to make a point, the words of the man of the match in the first two Origin games in 1980 and 1981 should resonate with the current Maroons, who were dire in the series-opening 18-6 loss to NSW in Brisbane. Queensland must win on Wednesday night to keep the series alive and avoid losing four Origin games in a row for the first time since 1996-1997. Close backed the selectors' decision to axe former Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans as half and replace him with North Queensland co-captain Tom Dearden. The former Maroons team manager said Dearden was the only player that went 'above their club standard to a level that is called State of Origin' in Brisbane when he came off the bench and sparked the attack. Close said it wasn't just Cherry-Evans amongst the spine members who failed to fire. 'There are a couple of other players that are very lucky to be coming back,' he fired. 'Kalyn Ponga, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant were all very ordinary in game one, three of our most important players. 'I don't care how far you go back and how many games they won or what they did, we are talking about this week. They need to understand they are judged for each game, not for the collective of the season. 'If we don't have players that can lift and play above the club standard that is required to play Origin and put their bodies on the line then they don't deserve to be in the team.' Close's comments come from the right place. There is no more passionate Queenslander than the man known as 'Choppy'. 'I get stirred up because I hate losing,' he said. 'NSW have a really good team and are playing with a spirit that NSW doesn't display that often, but this team has it.'(For Queensland) we have got to lose that mindset that the world stops when our good players are forced to retire. 'Let's find another mindset where we find a player who will take over and give us what we need — a performance at a level that is way above what they give on a week-in and week-out basis.' Hooker Grant had one of his poorest games at Suncorp Stadium. 'I've played enough footy over the years to know what I need to do and know what's important going into a big game like an Origin,' Grant said this week when asked about his game one display. 'I probably went away from that a little bit and it flowed into the game.' Munster will captain the side for the first time in Perth. 'I need to go out there and be the best player for this team and the best version of myself,' he said. 'I will do everything I can and get the ball in my hands to win this game, that's pretty much why I'm out there.'
