Tiger_Watto
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No Doubt this will be on the walls of the Qld Sheds tomorrow night…
Paul Gallen's fiery pre-Origin tirade aimed at the "disrespectful" Maroons is a reflection of the growing frustrations in the NSW camp over the "angels" of the game perception Queensland have developed.
The Blues have had enough.
First it was Robbie Farah, who last week said players like Billy Slater are allowed to get away with questionable tactics because of their cleanskin image.
Then James Tamou labelled Nate Myles the biggest grub in the Maroons team.
Privately, the Blues are seething over the tactics the Maroons implemented in game one and have been plotting their revenge since.
Then, on the eve of game two at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday night, the Blues skipper unleashed a barrage of criticism of the Maroons' tactics that has set the scene for plenty of fireworks at the iconic venue.
Gallen also heaped pressure on Queensland halfback Daly Cherry-Evans to live up to his $10 million price tag, while he slammed the Maroons for their arrogance in booking Slater in for shoulder surgery a day after the game.
"Billy is planning on having surgery on Thursday," Gallen said. "That's a sign where they think their team is at. They think they are going to get this win and win the series. Billy will have surgery and the rest of the year off. It's a little bit disrespectful to us.
"Sitting here talking about it is cheap. We have to get the win and shut him out for the rest of the year."
Gallen said the young Blues were naive in game one not to think Queensland would resort to their grubby tactics. However, the Blues captain said they were well prepared to deal with it this time around.
"When Josh Morris is lying on the ground and Billy Slater drops a shoulder – little stuff like that," Gallen said.
"We aren't going out there to play dirty. I'm not out there to play dirty but we won't be taking a backward step. If those tactics come into the game I'm sure our boys will be up to it."
The Blues captain believes Cherry-Evans is under the most pressure of all the players taking the field on Wednesday night.
"I've got no reason to boo him but if we're talking about pressure he is probably under the most," Gallen said.
"The $10 million man. He is in their side by Cooper [Cronk] being out [injured]. He is under more pressure than anyone."
The Maroons have long been regarded as a formidable football team, with their questionable tactics only adding to their intimidating demeanour.
However, Gallen is adamant the fear factor no longer exists, urging his team to stand up to the "so-called angels".
"There's not a lot of fear factor in them any more," he said.
"We have been used to their grubby tactics for years. I suppose in game one the boys were a little bit naive to think some of their so-called angels of the game don't do anything of it. None of the boys will be taking a backward step this time. They know what's coming."
Gallen said there was no love lost between the two states, fuelled by a perception the Blues didn't deserve to win the series last year given Cronk was out of the side for the majority of the campaign.
"Hate is a strong word and you don't want to come out and hate anyone, but there is genuine hatred there between the two states," Gallen said.
"This whole event and rivalry is the biggest in Australian sport. It's outstanding. They carry on about the Cooper Cronk factor, about him not being there in game two. The way they are going in this game with Billy probably his last game of the season they probably think they are better than us and we didn't deserve the win last year in their eyes."
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http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/state-of-origin/state-of-origin-2015-paul-gallens-tirade-at-queenslanders-shows-blues-frustrations-20150616-ghp76n.html
Paul Gallen's fiery pre-Origin tirade aimed at the "disrespectful" Maroons is a reflection of the growing frustrations in the NSW camp over the "angels" of the game perception Queensland have developed.
The Blues have had enough.
First it was Robbie Farah, who last week said players like Billy Slater are allowed to get away with questionable tactics because of their cleanskin image.
Then James Tamou labelled Nate Myles the biggest grub in the Maroons team.
Privately, the Blues are seething over the tactics the Maroons implemented in game one and have been plotting their revenge since.
Then, on the eve of game two at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday night, the Blues skipper unleashed a barrage of criticism of the Maroons' tactics that has set the scene for plenty of fireworks at the iconic venue.
Gallen also heaped pressure on Queensland halfback Daly Cherry-Evans to live up to his $10 million price tag, while he slammed the Maroons for their arrogance in booking Slater in for shoulder surgery a day after the game.
"Billy is planning on having surgery on Thursday," Gallen said. "That's a sign where they think their team is at. They think they are going to get this win and win the series. Billy will have surgery and the rest of the year off. It's a little bit disrespectful to us.
"Sitting here talking about it is cheap. We have to get the win and shut him out for the rest of the year."
Gallen said the young Blues were naive in game one not to think Queensland would resort to their grubby tactics. However, the Blues captain said they were well prepared to deal with it this time around.
"When Josh Morris is lying on the ground and Billy Slater drops a shoulder – little stuff like that," Gallen said.
"We aren't going out there to play dirty. I'm not out there to play dirty but we won't be taking a backward step. If those tactics come into the game I'm sure our boys will be up to it."
The Blues captain believes Cherry-Evans is under the most pressure of all the players taking the field on Wednesday night.
"I've got no reason to boo him but if we're talking about pressure he is probably under the most," Gallen said.
"The $10 million man. He is in their side by Cooper [Cronk] being out [injured]. He is under more pressure than anyone."
The Maroons have long been regarded as a formidable football team, with their questionable tactics only adding to their intimidating demeanour.
However, Gallen is adamant the fear factor no longer exists, urging his team to stand up to the "so-called angels".
"There's not a lot of fear factor in them any more," he said.
"We have been used to their grubby tactics for years. I suppose in game one the boys were a little bit naive to think some of their so-called angels of the game don't do anything of it. None of the boys will be taking a backward step this time. They know what's coming."
Gallen said there was no love lost between the two states, fuelled by a perception the Blues didn't deserve to win the series last year given Cronk was out of the side for the majority of the campaign.
"Hate is a strong word and you don't want to come out and hate anyone, but there is genuine hatred there between the two states," Gallen said.
"This whole event and rivalry is the biggest in Australian sport. It's outstanding. They carry on about the Cooper Cronk factor, about him not being there in game two. The way they are going in this game with Billy probably his last game of the season they probably think they are better than us and we didn't deserve the win last year in their eyes."
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http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/state-of-origin/state-of-origin-2015-paul-gallens-tirade-at-queenslanders-shows-blues-frustrations-20150616-ghp76n.html
