Origin battle of back rows
Luke Turgeon
A TITANIC showdown is set to ignite between Gold Coast teammates Ashley Harrison and Anthony Laffranchi tomorrow night when State of Origin roars to life in Melbourne.
Carrying on the proud tradition of Mate v Mate, State v State, the Titans pack partners are on a collision course, with Harrison hunting payback for an incident from the 2008 series decider.
Queenslander Harrison yesterday revealed it was a tackle from good friend and Blues opposite Laffranchi that left him with busted rib cartilage last year.
Now he wants revenge.
"For sure," said Harrison when asked if he would have a loaded shoulder prepared should Laffranchi come his way. "He got me last year and put me out for a couple of games. He has been reminding me about it too over the past few months.
"That is Origin footy, when we have different jerseys we become opponents."
The gutsy Maroons backrower famously battled on to finish the match and help Queensland secure their third-straight series win.
But it came at a cost to the Gold Coast, with Harrison sidelined for the next two NRL club matches.
In an intriguing twist, Titans boss Michael Searle yesterday gave the pair his blessing to again bash each other into submission.
"I wouldn't expect them to go out and be soft on each other. I would be disappointed if they did," said Searle. "That is part of the Origin. It is no holds barred.
"I would be more worried if they tried not to damage each other."
Speaking to The Bulletin from Camp Maroon in Melbourne, Harrison said he would be putting his friendship with Laffranchi aside as Queensland chases an unprecedented fourth-straight series victory.
"I heard he was coming into the side and it is great recognition for him," said Harrison.
"I won't be trying to do too much different to what I do at club level ... just do my job and do my job well."
While Harrison has Laffranchi in his sights, the 28-year-old played down talk of an 'old-fashioned Origin stink' amid claims that the rookie NSW pack was planning to ambush their more experienced Maroon rivals.
"If anyone has got any energy to put a stink on, they must be going all right," said Harrison.
While Laffranchi was rushed into the Blues side at the weekend after NSW enforcer Paul Gallen was ruled out through injury, Harrison has enjoyed a drama-free build-up.
He said the pressure of being overwhelming favourites had not affected the Maroons during their low-key preparation at Nagambie Lakes, an hour and a half outside the Victorian capital.
"The first couple of days were pretty laidback, then it has started to ramp up," said Harrison.
The State of Origin period has marked the beginning of the end for the Titans in their first two NRL campaigns and while injuries to Harrison, Laffranchi or Luke Bailey could spell disaster for the Coast, Searle said it was against the spirit of the game to hold back.
"That slogan Mate v Mate, State v State is so true," said Searle.
"I can't think of another code in the world that would gleefully accept that their players are going to go hard on each other.
"But it is such an important part of our game."
and makes it so different to any other sport."
"By the same token it is the next eight weeks for our club that will determine how we go in our goal of getting a home semi final.
"While there is a lot of focus on representative football, I know that the coaching staff and the players are working really hard because they know we are going to be benchmarked on the success of our club performances over the next eight weeks."
Source:
http://www.goldcoast.com.au