Experienced back-rower Anthony Watmough claims the team spirit in the current NSW side is the best he’s experienced since making his State of Origin debut nine year ago.
Watmough played in one game in the last series won by the Blues in 2005, but has been in and out of the team ever since, finding himself the victim of the constant chopping and changing by selectors.
Next Wednesday’s clash in Brisbane will be only his 13th Origin appearance, and last year under Laurie Daley was the first time the Manly and Test star had played in all three games of a series.
The 30-year-old believes that because most of the same players have been in and around the team for the last three years a tight bond has formed and was strengthened by spending five days in camp in the unfamiliar surrounds of Coffs Harbour.
“I said to the boys last night, this is the closest team I’ve ever been a part of,” Watmough said.
“I think what the boys have built over the last few years is really good mateship, really good friendship, and to come into camp and to be so natural – it’s really coming out on the field.
“We’ve been training excellent. The last few camps it’s been a little bit stop start and not knowing your role but this one it’s been short and sharp from the start.”
The Blues played in an opposed session with a representative side from the Group 3 competition in their last serious work out before jetting in to Brisbane on Sunday afternoon on a chartered flight from Coffs.
Training has largely been closed to the media this week and Watmough said that has added to the professional feel that was somewhat missing when using public facilities in the Sydney beachside suburb of Coogee.
“We can run through our plays as much as we want with no defenders, but until you actually run through them (the plays) with defenders and see what you need to work on, you’re just going through the motions,” he said.
“We got a lot out of it, we know where we’re at, we know where we sit.
“If you’re just running against no one then you go out there on Wednesday and when things start going against you and you don’t know what you’re doing and you don’t know how to get out of it but with these it certainly helps.
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.
The NRL's showpiece Magic Round event is in danger of being swamped by negative headlines with three incidents tarnishing the build-up to the three-day…
David Fifita originally announced his intention to join the Roosters but less than a week later expressed doubts, choosing to remain on the Gold…
The Titans forward did a backflip to stay on the Gold Coast after originally agreeing to join the Roosters, and Phil Gould thinks it…
Why are NSW people always so desperate to prove that they “get” Origin, and that Origin means as much south of the Tweed as…
Over the years I’ve heard all the excuses about lack of investment or interest in women’s sport. But the reality is, that the hard…
We're at the point in the season when just about every tipster could do with a magic trick or two. Magic Round in Brisbane…
