NSW "bruise brothers" Paul Gallen and Greg Bird are pleased to welcome a third sibling into their fold for the street fight with Queensland in the opening State of Origin match at Suncorp Stadium.

Completing the Blues' back row is St George Illawarra's Beau Scott - and it's no coincidence he's another former Cronulla Shark cut from the same cloth of uncompromising aggression.

Captain Gallen and his long-time sidekick Bird will rekindle their bond next Wednesday night and Scott will fit in nicely as the trio attempt to set the tone for their NSW team-mates to follow.

With arguably the NRL's toughest forward Gallen and former Sharks coach Ricky Stuart in charge, proven performer Bird was never going to be overlooked.

And Scott has the in-your-face approach colleagues love and opponents loathe, so he's seen as the perfect man to stand alongside in the trenches.

"He's a funny fella, Beauy. He's quiet but you wouldn't want to be messing with him too much," said Gallen.

"He's the type of player you want to play with, he's a good man."

Gallen himself has been enormous for the Sharks and in the Australian Test this year, but declared Bird as essential to the Blues hopes of wrestling back Origin glory.

"It'll be good to see my old mate," said Gallen wryly.

"If there's such a thing as a rep player, he's a rep player. Every time he pulls on a blue jersey or a green and gold jersey, he's man of the match in a lot of them.

"He's suited to this type of footy and he's going to be huge for us.

"He's uncompromising, he's tough, he's aggressive, he plays with passion and thoroughly deserves his spot. It's going to be good to play with him again."

Scott's role for the Dragons playing alongside Jamie Soward has been crucial, but he refused to concede he'd be the five-eighth's protector at Suncorp Stadium.

The no-frills back-rower played for the Sharks in 2005-06 and knows from week-to-week battle in the NRL what Gallen and Bird are all about.

"They're pretty down to earth and love the competition side of the game," he said.

"I guess Ricky's picked a team for a reason."

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