Maroons hooker Harry Grant has assured Queensland fans he’s right to go for Game One and said the energy of the team’s newcomers has them primed to win back the shield.
Grant missed four games in the lead up to his selection in the Maroons squad, playing just the 55 minutes against the Sharks in Round 11 to prove he'd overcome a hamstring injury, but has been fit and firing during their camp on the Sunshine Coast.
“(Training has) been really good,” Grant said.
“Obviously, the hamstring and had a few weeks off there, but I got back for the Cronulla game and I am really confident in the way that I pulled up from that game and the way that this sort of period of training's been.
“I went through a fair bit a few years ago (2021) with a hamstring injury, so I've really learnt from that … that was throughout the Origin period, so I definitely learnt from that.
“Maybe in 2021 I was surfing a bit too much; there's been a fair bit of surf here, I but had to say no and I'm really focused on my body and getting that right and making sure I'm OK for Wednesday night and training.”
Inside Camp: Kalyn Ponga
Grant – a former Sunshine Coast Falcon – was happy to be back at his old stomping ground with the Queensland Hostplus Cup club helping prepare the Queensland side with two opposed sessions, with Sunday’s training also serving as a fan day.
Joining him in the Maroons squad this year are fellow former Falcons Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who has returned to the team after missing all last year with an ACL injury and debutant Trent Loiero, who was born in Nambour and played for the Kawana Dolphins as a junior.
Queensland 18th man Kurt Mann also played for the Falcons in the past, while skipper Daly Cherry Evan’s was a Sunshine Coast Sea Eagle before debuting with Manly.
Grant said Loiero, who joins centre Rob Toia and second rower Beau Fermor as Game One debutants, had the right qualities to thrive in Origin.
“I think they have brought a lot of energy (and) I guess a lot of perspective,” Grant said.
“We all remember our first game and we got a couple of guys in here playing their first with Bobby [Robert] Toia, Beau Fermor as well, first camp for Jesse Arthurs and Kuli [Kulikefu Finefeuiaki] and obviously Trenno playing his first game.
“It's probably more special for him being back home on the Sunny Coast, where it all started.
“I guess the thing for us as players, as Queenslanders, you never lose sight of the dream that you had as a kid to be in this jersey, you never lose sight of why you're doing it and who you're doing it for.”
With plenty of local attention centred around his Storm teammate Loiero, Grant said while some may have seen him as a surprise inclusion into the squad, he brought a number of understated qualities to the team.
“I think he brings a lot that as a teammate you want a player to bring,” Grant said.
“Some people at home probably won't see a lot of the stuff that that Trent brings to a team in terms of the little effort areas; kick pressure, kick chase, filling the space, but he's really added a lot to his game over the last few years in terms of being a middle player with a very whole rounded game, in terms of ball playing, offload, hard direct carries, he's got good leg speed, so he's quick once he gets going.
“But I think to sum Trent up, and he'd sort of attest to it, he just does the little stuff that that people don't see, the little stuff that requires no talent.
“That's what I guess Origin play is all about, so hopefully he can really bring that mindset and bring that to his game on Wednesday night.”
Match: Maroons v Blues
Game 1 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
