{"id":315317,"date":"2023-07-11T07:02:12","date_gmt":"2023-07-11T07:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=315317"},"modified":"2023-07-11T11:59:24","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T11:59:24","slug":"good-combo-meningas-tip-for-new-blues-pairing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=315317","title":{"rendered":"'Good combo': Meninga's tip for new Blues pairing"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Kangaroos<\/a> World Cup front row will be unleashed on Wednesday night, only this time in sky blue, with Reagan Campbell-Gillard<\/a> and Jake Trbojevic<\/a> set to be reunited for Origin III.<\/p>\n

The duo was in the starting line-up for the Kangaroos for last year's Rugby League World Cup<\/a> final, playing their part in a dominant 30-10 victory over Samoa<\/a> at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n

Campbell-Gillard missed the first two games of the Origin series after a high-grade groin injury ruled him out of the competition for two months.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong>Suns sack coach after 'relationships soured'<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong>Thurston warned by NRL over Origin antics<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong>Thurston reveals Maroons' reaction to Blues rookie's spicy comment<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The Blues prop thanked his medical team for cutting his rehabilitation period short and helping him become match-fit in time for this year's final clash against the Maroons, albeit that the series result has already been settled.<\/p>\n

\"Reagan<\/p>\n

Trbojevic will make an early return to the NSW side after being ruled out of Origin selection before game one after suffering a calf tear in Manly's clash against the Raiders.<\/p>\n

Although it is unknown what the outcome would have been if the two front rowers were available for the opening games, Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga<\/a> has faith the pair will be a strong force against the Maroons in game three.<\/p>\n

"They're a good combo, which is why they started for us in that final," Meninga said.<\/p>\n

"Reg has worked hard, he's worked his butt off to get back, and he's just a tough, uncompromising player who is a good leader and good fella to have around that group.<\/p>\n

"He also loves taking that first run."<\/p>\n

Watch the 2023 State of Origin series LIVE and exclusive on Channel 9 and <\/strong><\/em>9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Kangaroos<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old is playing in his prime years, having won two World Cup finals with the Kangaroos (2017 and 2022).<\/p>\n

However, the star has yet to dominate in the Origin arena, dropping in and out of the Blues side over the past three years.<\/p>\n

He's ready to make an impact on Wednesday, saying "we will be playing for pride to make sure it doesn't end up a whitewash."<\/p>\n

The Parramatta prop was introduced back into the Blues squad at the expense of teammate Junior Paulo, revealing he was surprised to see his front-row mate dropped from the squad.<\/p>\n

"I was a bit shocked, I thought he [Paulo] would be here," Campbell-Gillard said.<\/p>\n

"I know he's keen to get back and do a job for Parra. I think it was going to be him or me [selected].<\/p>\n

"We're close. We know each other's games really well. He doesn't have to say much for me to know what he's thinking and vice versa."<\/p>\n

\"Blues<\/p>\n

The two Eels props have only played seven out of 17 possible club games together this season due to injury, suspension and Origin duties, but Campbell-Gillard revealed he is "keen to finish the back end of the year with him and string some consistent games together."<\/p>\n

"We haven't played together much this year because of me being injured, or him being suspended or on Origin duty," said Campbell-Gillard.<\/p>\n

"[As for Wednesday] for me to be back playing for NSW and this jersey, it means a lot to me and my family.<\/p>\n

"We're playing for pride making sure it doesn't end up a whitewash.<\/p>\n

"I'm pretty straight up and down, everyone knows how I play," Campbell-Gillard said.<\/p>\n

"I've won two World Cups now, and I'm always thankful whenever I get to be a part of these representative teams."<\/p>\n

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here<\/strong><\/em><\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Kangaroos World Cup front row will be unleashed on Wednesday night, only this time in sky blue, with Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Jake Trbojevic set […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":315319,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/315317"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=315317"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/315317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":315322,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/315317\/revisions\/315322"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/315319"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=315317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=315317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=315317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}