He famously stood toe-to-toe with Queensland royalty Wally Lewis in 1991 – but NSW great Mark Geyer admits another pair of Maroons legends has him feeling nervous ahead of the 2020 State of Origin series.
Despite concerns over star Sydney Roosters full-back James Tedesco’s left knee and Melbourne speed machine Ryan Papenhuyzen’s withdrawal due to a calf strain, Brad Fittler’s Blues will enter Game 1 as strong favourites.
Geyer on Thursday night declared NSW are the far stronger side on paper but urged the Blues not to underestimate the coaching dream team of Wayne Bennett and Mal Meninga.
Bennett was this month installed as boss of the Maroons for the first time since 2003 after incumbent Kevin Walters won the race for the Brisbane Broncos job.
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Bennett subsequently added incumbent Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga, who won nine-of-10 series in charge of the Maroons, to his coaching staff for the upcoming series.
“On paper … and you don’t play rugby league games on paper but you’d be lucky to get two or three Queenslanders into the NSW side on paper, because they are such a young team with eight debutants,” Geyer told Triple M’s The Rush Hour with MG.
“But this X-factor of Mal Meninga and Wayne Bennett together worries me as New South Welshman.
“They are strong men, and sometimes all you need is a bit of guidance along your way.
“… You know what, I think Freddy (Brad Fittler and the Blues coaching staff) will sit back and go OK, it’s a strong team they’ve (Queensland) come up with and even stronger leadership in who they’ve got behind the scenes in Meninga and Bennett.
“So it’s game on, baby, it’s game on.”
