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It’s being billed as the game that will decide NSW’s Origin halves, but Roosters skipper Jake Friend has urged his teammates to ignore the hype.
Just four days before Blues coach Laurie Daley names his team for Game I in Sydney, in-form Roosters pair James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce take on out-of-form Canterbury duo Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson in arguably the NRL’s most anticipated battle of the round.
Friend said whichever combination best kept their focus on club duties would go a long way to earning a crucial two points.
“It’s tough for the boys. Hopefully they don’t get caught up in the hype and they just turn up and play footy and do what they do,” he said.
“That’s all they can do. The hype’s going to be there – whoever can turn up and play footy will probably end up the winner.”
After a mixed start to the season, Maloney backed up his man-of-the match performance in the City-Country game with another starring role in last week’s big victory over the Wests Tigers.
“The week in Country for Jimmy really helped him. He came back buzzing,” Friend said.
“I think him and Junior (Pearce) played really well on the weekend. With the Bulldogs halves, Origin around the corner, I expect that our boys will be playing to their full potential and hopefully we can get a win.”
Roosters teammate Sam Moa said the side had addressed the Origin build-up in a team meeting early on Monday morning.
“It’s been pumped up more than what it is, really,” Moa said.
“We had a brief team video and you really just have to worry about how you’re going to play for us because it’s Roosters number one.
“And then when rep round comes around, if they’re selected for NSW it’s obviously NSW then.
“They’re two of our best players, two of our main players, if they play well for us and we get a good result then it only enhances their chances of making NSW.”
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