Gallen says Suncorp not all bad
NSW captain Paul Gallen concedes two games at Suncorp Stadium is a scary scenario for the State of Origin outsiders, but said the Blues have no choice but to embrace the challenge.
After an unprecedented five consecutive series losses, NSW are under more pressure than any Origin side in history as the odds are heavily stacked against them.
Last year they were swept despite playing two matches in Sydney, and Gallen admits travelling to the cauldron of Suncorp Stadium for games one and three makes the job even tougher.
A settled Maroons line-up, coupled with Darren Lockyer's farewell tour, plus the emotions evoked by recent flood and cyclone disasters in the northern state, will all be driving Queensland when they run onto their home turf.
Gallen said the Blues will put a positive spin on the head-start they are giving their opponents.
"Obviously when you think about it, it's a bit daunting. We had the opportunity last year with two games in NSW and didn't succeed so they've got the advantage there," said the skipper.
"It's a challenge, it's something I can't look at as a negative. I look at it as a really big challenge and there would be no greater way to turn the tide than to beat Queensland (in Brisbane)."
Debutant Dean Young said he wouldn't be intimidated by running out onto the sold out venue.
With St George Illawarra, Young has had great success at ambushing the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp, and said the Blues can work the same trick.
"It might be (intimidating) for fans to see it that way but not for players," he said.
"I think if you are playing for the Dragons you play at Suncorp and they're selling it out all the time.
"...I think that can take it away from the Broncos to be honest ... because everyone looks forward to playing there, it's such a wonderful ground, best ground in the world.
"We're not going up there thinking 'oh we've got to play in Brisbane', we're looking forward to it."
Gallen knows coach Ricky Stuart as well as anyone from their years together at Cronulla.
Stuart is renowned for his intensity and attention to detail and Gallen said the Blues will gain confidence from how well they're prepared.
"He's going to bring a lot of passion that's for sure," he said.
"I know speaking to him over the past few months he's been working really hard. I know how hard he worked at club level when he was working week-to-week so to only be in charge for three games there's going to be no stone unturned
"I know he's going to have done video, he's going to know everything that Queensland's going to throw at us and if I know anything, next Wednesday we're going to be as well prepared as we possibly can be."
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