{"id":82196,"date":"2021-06-08T05:33:01","date_gmt":"2021-06-08T05:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=82196"},"modified":"2021-06-08T08:05:49","modified_gmt":"2021-06-08T08:05:49","slug":"green-declares-blues-a-better-team-than-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=82196","title":{"rendered":"Green declares Blues 'a better team than us'"},"content":{"rendered":"

Queensland coach Paul Green has confirmed Valentine Holmes<\/a> will start at fullback in the opening State of Origin match in Townsville<\/a>, while AJ Brimson has overcome a niggling knee injury.<\/p>\n

But Green was still quick to claim underdog status for the match, pointing out his side's preparations had been hampered by a number of disruptions.<\/p>\n

Brimson trained today and will take his spot on the bench for the match, with his utility value meaning he's likely to spend some time at hooker during the match when Harry Grant<\/a> is given a spell.<\/p>\n

The opening State of Origin match from Townsville will be live on Nine from 7pm (AEST) Wednesday.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

"He (Brimson) got through today's session really well so he'll take plenty of confidence out of that. He'll be right," Green said.<\/p>\n

The Queensland coach confirmed Coen Hess and Ben Hunt would be the two players to miss out from the 19-man squad, with Holmes to start at fullback in the absence of the injured Kalyn Ponga, who has been sidelined by a groin complaint.<\/p>\n

"I think his form is getting better and he has a good, strong carry out of the back end, which is important in Origin and a bit of x-factor around the footy," he said.<\/p>\n

It means Brimson is available to fill a number of roles off the bench, with Grant's hamstring likely to prevent him playing the full 80 minutes.<\/p>\n

"I think he (Brimson) can do a job for us there through the middle," Green said.<\/p>\n

"His strengths as a player, I think can be used through there at dummy half and then it's insurance anywhere in the outside backs for us as well," he said.<\/p>\n

Dane Gagai<\/a> trained after reportedly requiring a trip to hospital for an antibiotic injection as he battles tonsillitis<\/a>, leading Green to claim New South Wales would start favourites.<\/p>\n

"We are (underdogs)," Green claimed.<\/p>\n

"We've had a pretty disrupted prep, and on paper they're a better team than us.<\/p>\n

"In terms of training we haven't had a full week's prep with guys in different positions.<\/p>\n

"It is what it is. They're experienced and they know what they have to do come game day.<\/p>\n

"I suppose as part of the challenge from a coaching point of view is how you bring that group together. I'm really happy with where we're at."<\/p>\n

\"Paul<\/p>\n

Green acknowledged that Queensland would be looking to take advantage of debutant Blues winger Brian To'o's problems under the high ball.<\/p>\n

The 22-year-old isn't the tallest winger going around, with New South Wales coach Brad Fittler<\/a> expecting him to be targeted.<\/p>\n

"I think he's had mixed results under the high ball," Green said.<\/p>\n

"So that's an area, I think both our wingers are good under the high ball so either side it's an opportunity for us."<\/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>\u00a0clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Queensland coach Paul Green has confirmed Valentine Holmes will start at fullback in the opening State of Origin match in Townsville, while AJ Brimson has […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"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\/82196"}],"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=82196"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82198,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82196\/revisions\/82198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=82196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=82196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=82196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}