Heavily targeted by the Blues in Game Two, Maroons prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has vowed to keep his emotions in check as Queensland aim to defy the odds in the decider.
Seen as a symbolic leader of the Maroons pack with his standing as a club captain and his imposing presence, New South Wales did well to frustrate Fa’asuamaleaui into errors in Perth, with players like Liam Martin revelling in the Origin rivalry.
However, Fa’asuamaleaui has vowed not to bite back, knowing how ill-discipline in the series opener cost Queensland dearly in their 18-6 loss.
“I've always had that fight in me; I just think that it just needs to be used in the right place and the right time,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“Obviously if it's too much … with fire, you don't know what happens to it, it just goes anywhere.
“I have just got to keep that under control and do my job for Queensland and just really focus on that.
“That's all I'm worried about; the football side of things and doing my job and being aggressive. I just want to get my role done for Queensland.
“I am training very hard and I'm doing everything I can right to get my job right, just have to execute right on the game day.
“(It’s) just the roller coaster of Origin and getting used to that again and just how much I do love the state.
“Everyone probably saw that Game One; and then Game Two, having that under control a bit more, (it was) another roller coaster, a few things on the field that didn't go the way I wanted it, but then, that's what the whole journey of Origin's about, and football and I guess even life.
“Obviously at the start of the year (after coming back from an ACL injury) I was just still finding my lungs and still finding the way things move on the field.
“I think I feel like I'm just starting to get that, especially in defence, the whole contact thing and all the little technical stuff that people probably don't see.
“The movements on the field that people don't see; I'm starting to get that again and I think it's coming at the right time, which is good. I have just got to get the confidence to back that up and make sure I execute that for the boys.
“To be here for the decider, it is so cool that I get to work on those things again and hopefully come home with the shield.”
For Wednesday’s game, Billy Slater has coaxed Josh Papalii out of retirement for the must-win game, with the experienced prop saying he hoped he could provide support for Fa’asuamaleaui to channel his emotion.
“I always loved playing with Tino. I think just his approach to games, how aggressive he is, I feel like because I'm a bit older I can help him have that controlled aggression,” Papalii said.
“I've been guilty in the past for maybe being a bit too aggressive and channelling my anger and other things.
“I'm just there to help, do my role and hopefully we can do that next Wednesday.”
Both former Samoa representatives, Fa’asuamaleaui said playing with ‘Big Papa’ again was special and dismissed any criticism of his selection from some doubting his ability to perform again at this level.
“It's so good, he's one of my idols, he's in my top five favourite players that I've ever played with, if not number one,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“He's so good, he just brings that confidence for the whole group, just his aura.
“(He is a) gentle giant, he loves to laugh and he gets everyone together and just brings everyone together, which is so good … He just does his role for Queensland and obviously the aura that he has, it gives us confidence to do our role and we just get behind it.
“It's so good to have someone that experienced and someone that's been there and done it in big games …
“They can say whatever they want, we know what Paps brings for this team and we respect that, and they obviously don't know that.
“So, just wait (to see) what we do Wednesday.”
Match: Blues v Maroons
Game 3 -
home Team
Blues
away Team
Maroons
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
