Opinion
Playing fullback in Origin is as tough as it gets and the battle between James Tedesco and Kalyn Ponga will go a long way to deciding who comes out on top on Wednesday night.
Tedesco is one of the best players in the NRL not just one of the top fullbacks and I think Ponga is ready to deliver his best again at Origin level.
You’ve got to hold your gloves up when you’re wearing that No.1 jersey out the back by yourself.
On kick returns it’s a whole new ball game, physically, compared to club level. There’s a little bit more that goes on in the tackles in Origin, which is part of the spectacle and part of its brutal nature.
You’ve got to be tough, you’ve got to be resilient, you’ve got to study the opposition on their kicking game so you can catch as many balls on the full as you can to get those return metres.
Then you’ve got to try to win that first play-the-ball when you’ve got defenders all over you and get the sets rolling.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
On the flip side, if you’re not successful in doing that it’s pretty hard to get out of your own end.
Tedesco he reads the game well, his kick returns are quick because he’s footwork is so great and he’s super strong.
Ponga is not as experienced but we see that when he plays for Queensland he’s one of the most dynamic players on the field. He’s not as big but he’s certainly a danger as far as broken play so NSW will have to make sure they have a straight line on kick-chase otherwise he’ll exploit that.
Newcastle’s form has been down so that’s had an influence on his game, like it would on anyone, but that’s irrelevant going into Origin. Kalyn’s one of the most explosive players going around so previous club form goes out the window. NSW won’t be complacent around him.
His form hasn’t been at the standard that he would like it to be for the Knights but he will be surrounded by a higher quality of teammate, two halves that are among the best in the business who will give him the ball when and where he needs it.
All players on both sides are under pressure in the Origin arena.
James Tedesco raises the State of Origin shield. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Origin is full of those moments where you only have to be off by a fraction of a second, a step out of place here or there and it could mean a game or a series is over.
There were always moments back when I was playing where I wish I could have done things differently but as far as effort wise I never reflected on games and thought I wish I put more effort in.
I busted my arse as much as I could in Origin and that’s how you have to approach the games.
Execution can sometimes go astray but you have to have the mindset that the stakes are high and you have to play accordingly.
There’s only three games a year and even if you’re lucky enough to represent your state, you don’t get to play many of them over the course of your career. You’ve got to make them count.
You just don’t want to miss the mark on one play – you don’t know what it will cost you.
The intensity, the aggressiveness, the physical and mental fatigue, it’s almost double a club level game.
Both teams are the best of the best, super professional and I don’t think the conditions will affect Queensland too much even if it is a slippery night at Accor Stadium.
They’ve all played plenty of night matches there in the NRL but at least we’re back to normal now as far as having crowds back and hopefully there’s 80,000-plus fans there giving it to the Maroons like their fans always give it to the Blues, especially after all three games were played in Queensland last year.
There’s been a lot of talk about the teams that have been selected as there always is but one guy I was very happy to see get another run for NSW was Tariq Sims.
He’s big and aggressive and he’s got a bit of mongrel in him – you always need those sort of players in Origin. Felise Kaufusi has been doing that for Queensland for a fair few years.
Ben Hunt scores for the Maroons against the Blues. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Sims’ teammate at the Dragons, Ben Hunt, is another player who I think will have a big influence on how the match.
Having him at hooker gives Queensland a point of difference in that he always causes NSW dramas – he plays halfback for the majority of the year at St George Illawarra but every time he plays hooker for the Maroons he makes a massive impact. He can kick out of dummy half, he’ll get through a bunch of tackles and isn’t afraid to take the ball to the line to create space for his teammates.
It will probably be a low-scoring game and I hope the ref lets the players sort it out without too many penalties or six-agains. Hopefully we’re in for that type of game again.
Kurt Gidley played more than 300 first-grade rugby league games in Australia and England including 251 for the Newcastle Knights where he won a premiership in 2001.
He could play at fullback, five-eighth, halfback, and hooker. He captained NSW while also representing Australia.
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