- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Blues are backing freakish fullback Jarryd Hayne to overcome injury and deliver another superhuman performance in next Wednesday’s State of Origin return bout against Queensland.
Hayne sat out NSW training in Coffs Harbour on Wednesday with a corked leg but teammates have no doubt he’ll bounce back and conjure another inspirational display as the Blues look up to wrap up a long overdue series win in Sydney.
Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns made the prophetic pre-game statement that Hayne must be man of the match for the Blues to win the series opener in Brisbane a fortnight ago.
>> Expert reaction the Queensland’s Origin team for Game 2
>> Expert reaction the New South Wales’ Origin team for Game 2
Hayne not only delivered on Johns’ word, but his heroics in both attack and defence in the 12-8 triumph at Suncorp Stadium had some experts rating his performance a perfect 10.
First-year Blues halfback Trent Hodkinson, who played alongside Hayne in the Parramatta junior ranks at age 15, is convinced the 26-year-old former Dally M Medallist will repeat his magic show at ANZ Stadium.
“I think it just comes naturally for him,” Hodkinson said on Wednesday.
“He’s been here for a long time and he’s experienced Origin for however many years so he’s just got to do what he does best.
“He showed in game one what he’s capable of. He’s just got to do that again.”
With the Blues so close yet so far from their first series victory since 2005, Hodkinson says the entire squad must step up and support Hayne for NSW to break the drought.
“Personally, I want to go to the next level,” Hodkinson said.
“My debut game, I was happy to get through that and stoked to get the win, but there’s things I’ve got to work on in attack and my kicking game.
“I want to take a few things to the next level.”
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.