lonegull
11-05-06, 11:59 AM
'I want Origin jersey'
Steve Ricketts
Courier Mail
May 11, 2006
SCOTT Prince has set himself for a huge game for Wests Tigers against Newcastle's Test star Andrew Johns at Campbelltown on Sunday to force his way into the Queensland State of Origin side.
Prince, who last played against Johns in 2001, said yesterday he had put aside the disappointment of losing the Wests Tigers captaincy and was enjoying his football again.
Queensland's halfback in the 2004 Origin series, Prince said he was aware of speculation new Maroons coach Mal Meninga wanted him back in the side with last year's halfback Johnathan Thurston at five-eighth and Darren Lockyer at fullback.
"I haven't spoken to Mal but I've heard two different scenarios," Prince said. "One has Locky staying at five-eighth and the other has him at fullback.
"The bottom line from my point of view is to play well for the Tigers and that will enhance my chances of getting a start. I've had to go through a bit with my decision to sign with the Gold Coast for next year and then having to stand down from the (Tigers) captaincy.
"I didn't think losing the captaincy would hit me as hard as it did and it took me a few weeks to get my head around things.
"Now I'm getting back to enjoying my football and the Queensland selectors know how much representing the state means to me.
"It will be a huge challenge against Joey. I haven't played against him since my Broncos days."
That was in round 18, 2001 when Johns led the Knights to a 44-0 win over a Broncos team that included Lockyer, Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor, Shane Webcke and Petero Civoniceva.
Since then Johns and Prince have had their share of injuries but things really started to turn around for Prince in 2004 when he was named man of the match for Queensland in Game One of the Origin series when he marked Penrith's Craig Gower. Last year, Brett Kimmorley was NSW halfback in Origin 1 before Johns returned to lift the Blues to a series win.
Prince, one of the masterminds of the Tigers' 2005 premiership win, missed the Queensland preliminary camp this year because he was chosen to launch the 2006 NRL season on the same night as the Maroons gathered in Brisbane.
"I would have liked to be there because they had an opposed training run where they split up into positions and Alfie (Allan Langer) and Kevvie Walters took the halves," Prince said.
Walters said yesterday if Prince had a big match against Johns it could cause a few headaches in the selection room on Sunday.
"It won't harm his cause, put it that way," Walters said.
The selectors are believed to be leaning towards the retention of Lockyer at five-eighth after impressive recent displays for Australia and Brisbane. In that case it would come down to a choice between Thurston and Prince for the halfback job.
English fullback Richard Mathers is believed to have told his club Leeds he will join Gold Coast Titans next season.
Steve Ricketts
Courier Mail
May 11, 2006
SCOTT Prince has set himself for a huge game for Wests Tigers against Newcastle's Test star Andrew Johns at Campbelltown on Sunday to force his way into the Queensland State of Origin side.
Prince, who last played against Johns in 2001, said yesterday he had put aside the disappointment of losing the Wests Tigers captaincy and was enjoying his football again.
Queensland's halfback in the 2004 Origin series, Prince said he was aware of speculation new Maroons coach Mal Meninga wanted him back in the side with last year's halfback Johnathan Thurston at five-eighth and Darren Lockyer at fullback.
"I haven't spoken to Mal but I've heard two different scenarios," Prince said. "One has Locky staying at five-eighth and the other has him at fullback.
"The bottom line from my point of view is to play well for the Tigers and that will enhance my chances of getting a start. I've had to go through a bit with my decision to sign with the Gold Coast for next year and then having to stand down from the (Tigers) captaincy.
"I didn't think losing the captaincy would hit me as hard as it did and it took me a few weeks to get my head around things.
"Now I'm getting back to enjoying my football and the Queensland selectors know how much representing the state means to me.
"It will be a huge challenge against Joey. I haven't played against him since my Broncos days."
That was in round 18, 2001 when Johns led the Knights to a 44-0 win over a Broncos team that included Lockyer, Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor, Shane Webcke and Petero Civoniceva.
Since then Johns and Prince have had their share of injuries but things really started to turn around for Prince in 2004 when he was named man of the match for Queensland in Game One of the Origin series when he marked Penrith's Craig Gower. Last year, Brett Kimmorley was NSW halfback in Origin 1 before Johns returned to lift the Blues to a series win.
Prince, one of the masterminds of the Tigers' 2005 premiership win, missed the Queensland preliminary camp this year because he was chosen to launch the 2006 NRL season on the same night as the Maroons gathered in Brisbane.
"I would have liked to be there because they had an opposed training run where they split up into positions and Alfie (Allan Langer) and Kevvie Walters took the halves," Prince said.
Walters said yesterday if Prince had a big match against Johns it could cause a few headaches in the selection room on Sunday.
"It won't harm his cause, put it that way," Walters said.
The selectors are believed to be leaning towards the retention of Lockyer at five-eighth after impressive recent displays for Australia and Brisbane. In that case it would come down to a choice between Thurston and Prince for the halfback job.
English fullback Richard Mathers is believed to have told his club Leeds he will join Gold Coast Titans next season.