Origin arena not for everyone but Kurt copes well
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Queensland star Kurt Capewell insists he will be fit for next Wednesday night’s State of Origin at ANZ Stadium as the Maroons attempt to secure a stunning series win following their triumph over NSW in Adelaide.
Capewell set the tone for Queensland’s second-half comeback with a series of bruising tackles that kept the Blues pinned in their own end and lain on the Maroons first try for fullback AJ Brimson before succumbing to a groin injury late in the match.
Brimson has since been ruled out for the rest of the series with a foot injury but Capewell will be right for next Wednesday at ANZ Stadium.
Cowboys star Valentine Holmes, coincidentally returning from suspension, is all but certain to replace Brimson in the No.1 jersey.
Capewell, who suffered his injury at training last week and the Penrith utility also had his right knee heavily strapped, managed an awkward but well-weighted kick for Brimson to score in the 50th minute after pushing off his opposite centre Clint Gutherson.
Match: Blues v Maroons
Game 2 -
home Team
Blues
away Team
Maroons
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
But he was little more than a passenger when Blues winger Josh Add-Carr scored his second try four minutes before full-time and five-eighth Cameron Munster was forced to shift to left centre as the Maroons hung on.
"It was just my groin," Capewell said.
"I hurt it at the start of the week at training and towards the end of the game it was getting a bit hard. I came out after half-time and it was tight, really tight.
Bennett proud to take Origin showcase to Adelaide
"I didn't want to go off because I knew we didn't have any centres on the bench but it got to the stage there where they scored that last try where I couldn't move or make up the ground on my centre.
"I felt it was best for the team to get off the field and get someone else out there who could run but I plan on playing next week."
He was one of eight debutants in a Queensland team which had been largely written off before their 18-14 triumph but are now just one win away from regaining the shield.
Despite spending most of his NRL career in the second row, Capewell is comfortable playing centre.
"I’m obviously ecstatic to debut for my state and get the win like we did," Capewell said. "To come back after half-time and play as well as we did was a pretty awesome feeling.
"You grow up supporting Queensland and you just love it. You live and breathe it. I remember as a kid looking forward to every Wednesday when Origin is on. Your blood boils and it is bred into you."
The 27-year-old former Shark described his kick for Brimson as "ugly but effective" and said it was the result of years of practice.
Capewell brushes past Gutherson, sets up Brimson
"Everyone knows if you go through the line there is always a fullback or halfback on the inside," Capewell said. "The banana kick is always something you do at training, so it was good to get one on.
"In all the skill games and conditioning games, mucking around with mates before and after training. That's all the stuff you do as a kid, you don't forget it. It was good it came off."
It is expected Bennett will stick largely with a winning side apart from bringing in Holmes.
Game two tickets start from $45 for members and $49 for general public or get your wig and experience the Blatchy’s effect from $85 for members or $90 for the general public
