NSW forward Ben Creagh has revealed the mental demons the Blues will have to overcome to finally end Queensland’s State of Origin dominance.
With just two wins from eight appearances in the sky blue, Origin has been a tough nut to crack for the St George Illawarra hard man.
But his lack of success is just a snapshot of that of the entire NSW squad.
Of the 17 players that will run onto Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, there is just a combined 20 Origin wins between them.
Queensland veteran Petero Civoniceva has 17 wins on his own.
“It’s hard – you always want to win everything, but it especially hurts when there’s so much effort put into your preparation for three matches a year,” Creagh said of the mental anguish the mounting losses have caused.
“They’re such big games, such big occasions – there’s a lot at stake and a lot to gain from winning – when you don’t come away with the win, it’s hard to take.
“I’m as hungry as ever and so are all the guys here who have been part of that disappointment over the last few years to try and win more than one game.”
“Last year’s first two performances were the best in a long time – we were so close in game one and to win game two was awesome.
“But we just didn’t put it together in game three to try and win the series.”
For Creagh, the desire for success is personal too.
Despite being a NSW regular – having missed just one game since making his debut in the 2009 series opener – Creagh is still searching for his Origin moment.
“I haven’t had much success at this level being able to win games, let alone personally being at my best as well,” Creagh said.
“It’s something I really want to do.”
Creagh is also battling to right doubts over his Origin toughness, a reputation which has stuck since his infamous involvement in the fiery end to the 2009 series finale.
The Dragons back-rower had attempted to come to the aid of teammate Kurt Gidley after the Maroons’ premeditated attack on the NSW fullback, before back-pedalling as a throng of Queensland players turned on him.
“It was a few years ago now – it was never my intention to go in and fight after what had happened two minutes earlier when there had been a massive brawl with blokes getting put on report,” Creagh said.
“If people think I’m not tough enough because of that incident, so be it – the only way I can change that is putting in a good performance at Origin level, playing to the best of my ability.
“I think that’s what makes you a tough Origin footballer, not fighting.”
The Blues switched camp to Melbourne on Wednesday, and will step up preparations with their first serious training run on Thursday.
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