NSW back-rower Luke Lewis doesn’t believe the form of his Penrith and Blues teammate Michael Jennings has been that bad – and has predicted a breakout performance in State of Origin I.
Amid reports the out-of-favour centre has been offered to rival NRL clubs, Lewis claimed a shoulder injury had affected Jennings’ ability to find his best form.
Jennings earlier this week denied he had an attitude problem after he was dumped to the NSW Cup by Panthers’ coach Ivan Cleary.
Asked about Jennings’ form heading into the Origin opener, Lewis told Sky Sports Radio: “I think he’s been playing pretty well.
“He had one game where he probably wasn’t at his best, but he’s had a little bit of a niggle there for a while where he was playing with a couple of needles and it was just wearing off before the game was finished and that was when he was going down a bit.
“His injury’s back to 100 per cent now and that’s the best thing about it – now we’re going to see Michael Jennings playing at 100 per cent, not at 80 per cent.”
Lewis said he had been encouraged by the way Jennings had handled his demotion to the Windsor Wolves – and was hoping for a repeat of his electrifying display in last year’s Origin opener.
“Michael can score points from anywhere. I know what he can do on a footy field and, when he puts his head to it, he’s very dangerous – I’m glad he’s on our side,” Lewis said.
“He went over to New Zealand (with the Windsor Wolves) and, credit to him – he had his head up and his shoulders up and his chest out.
“He did everything he possibly could to help that team prepare as best they could and he’s here with the same attitude.”
Meanwhile, Penrith officials failed to confirm a report on the Nine Network that Jennings has been offered to rival NRL clubs.
Jennings is the Panthers’ highest-paid player on a reported $600,000-a-year deal, which is not due to run out until the end of the 2014 season.
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While most of the side was common ground, there were a few positions that needed negotiation and compromise.
New South Wales was so dominant in the early years that by the time State of Origin was introduced, they were on a 20-year win streak.
