Michael Ennis takes a look at Game Three of the 2011 State Of Origin series and claims that his team is better balanced than ever before.
It may seem a little strange given that publicly at least Ricky Stuart is yet to name a final squad of 17 with 19 players still in the running.
They were using the excuse of fitness tests, something that seems a little strange given Stuart has previously stated if you’re not fit to train you’re not fit to play.
Ennis is worrying too much about that though and he says form the top down everything is in place to stop the dominance of Queensland rugby league.
“A lot has been made of the impact of (the past and current coaches) Craig Bellamy and Ricky Stuart on the team,” Ennis said. “I took a lot from Craig when he coached Origin.
“He got me my opportunity for NSW and stuck by me in the team when we lost. With Ricky obviously it has been different because he has had no club commitments.
“The preparation time he has put into the camp and everything he has organised off-field and the staff involved has meant we are certainly very well prepared. But it is also the best balanced side we have put together.”
As it stands the NSW camp has claimed all of the injured players will be available for selection, those being Michael Jennings (ankle), Beau Scott (knee), Ben Creagh (ankle), Glenn Stewart (back), Jamie Soward (hamstring) and Kurt Gidley (hamstring.
Despite this there’s still no sign of a final announcement with Trent Merrin the only man to be cut from the initial 20 man squad.
There’s little doubt internally they already know, something made even more clear by Ennis’s avoidance fo any discussions on the subject.
“Everyone has pulled up well”, but other than that, he would “not be making any comments about the team (make-up)”.
“If you want to know about the team, talk to Ricky – I am here to play a footy game, not select a footy team, alright,” he said.
Ennis has been dominated over the past two years and he’s trying to rub those memories out his mind before facing the onslaught once again on Wednesday.
“I haven’t thought about it; I have been thinking about the other scenario”.
In the past Queensland has managed to assert their strength and dominance right from the kick off, Ennis knows his team needs to toughen up if they’re going to stick with them.
“They have started well in the previous two games and we have done a good job pulling the Queensland side back when they were in front, but I don’t know if we can be third time lucky,” Ennis said.
He said that despite the great efforts by NSW to level the series, the Blues need to win for the 2011 campaign to be a success.
“Are we happy with where we are at (going into Game III)?” Ennis said. “No, not at all … when you win one game of footy albeit against a very good Queensland outfit and you are 1-1.
“If we win Wednesday night we will be.”
