NSW coach Brad Fittler ominously warned Queensland on the eve of the State of Origin series kick-off by suggesting this was a better blues team than last year.
Fittler paid tribute to the clubs for getting his players in tip-top shape as they trotted three straight wins against an inexperienced maroon team.
“The clubs have to do a great job because they have reached a higher level since last year,” Fittler said during Triple M rush hour with MG.
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Keary knows a thing or two about the blues
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“From the point of view of whether you want to judge it by dropballs or the time you spent on the field at speed, we get all the data.
“But in general we have boxing sessions and all kinds of sessions where we can test them and they just attack them.
“They attack everything and are just so competitive, so congratulations to the clubs.
“I don’t underestimate anything Queensland can do, but you have to play an NSW team that is a little better than what you did last year.”
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Fittler also opened his deliberations on Cody Walker’s pick on the bench by suggesting that he use utility players to take a sheet out of Queensland’s book.
“We looked at how Melbourne used players at different times and Papenhuyzen spent time in the middle,” said Fittler.
“Queensland has used Daly Cherry-Evans and Cooper Cronk in the past, all of whom have come through from the bank. When Kalyn Ponga got into the middle of the field, he did the same.
“Cody was one of the best players all year round. He was the most dangerous.
“If you watch him training, he’ll just give way. I don’t know how he does it sometimes, I just watch and he only gets defenses that watch him.
“I have no doubt that it will make a difference.”
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