TIPS: Fittler targets star playmaker NSW must ‘fatigue’
Brad Fittler has urged NSW to get under the skin of Cameron Munster to ensure Queensland does not become too powerful in the State of Origin series decider.
Queensland are the favourites with the bookies to lift the shield on Wednesday, as many pundits continue to call for NSW to change their approach in game three.
Selwyn Cobbo and Cameron Munster celebrate a try. Getty Images
The Maroons have produced dominant performances in the opening two games, but were unlucky to fall short of victory in the series opener on NSW soil.
Andrew Johns believes NSW need to focus on getting in the faces of Queensland’s key stars to set the tone for the game, especially Harry Grant and Sam Walker.
If the Blues do that successfully, the eighth Immortal insists the visitors “could get some errors” and be in the best position to surge forward in attack.
But Fittler feels that Johns overlooked one key figure that NSW should not forget,
“The one you have to get is Munster,” Fittler said on Nine’s Freddy and the Eighth.
“You have to fatigue Munster and get him agitated.
“I don’t think you can get to Sammy. If you try, you end up running over the sidelines because he mostly defends on the edge.
“They’ve done a good job with their back three. This Queensland team is as good of a team that I’ve seen in a long time. They are well-balanced.
“We need to be so aggressive on JoJo Fifita, Selwyn Cobbo and Kalyn Ponga ... because they’ve been making breaks from the back.”
Fittler pointed to Haumole Olakau’atu as an integral force in shutting Munster down, declaring the Blues will want him to “run over” the Maroons skipper.
But if they do not successfully shut down Munster, things may not go there way.
“If they don’t nail that, the rest of the game is nearly over,” Fittler concluded.
“I don’t know where else they will get an advantage.”
Nine’s expert tips
Andrew Johns: Blues by 2; MoM, Payne Haas
Brad Fittler: Blues by 2; MoM, James Tedesco
Mat Thompson: Maroons by 16; MoM, Harry Grant
Peter Psaltis: Maroons by 12; MoM, Kalyn Ponga
Ruan Sims: Blues by 2; MoM, Blayke Brailey
Paul Gallen: Blues by 2; MoM, Nathan Cleary
David Middleton: Blues by 10; MoM, Payne Haas
The Mole: Maroons by 13; MoM, Harry Grant
Ben Glover: Blues by 4; MoM, Liam Martin
Most viewed in NRL
Hynes blasts ‘embarrassing’ stadium saga as empty seats expose sorry sight
NRL finals RECAP: DCE shanks golden opportunity after Cleary’s ice-cold winner
Robbo fumes over contentious Bunker call in Roosters’ finals defeat
‘Carrying on like an idiot’: Panthers firebrand expecting call over X-rated spray
