Maroons forward Reuben Cotter is relishing a move back to the middle, after being locked in by coach Billy Slater to wear the number 13 jersey.
The Cowboys co-captain - who plays lock or prop for his club - also played hooker when coming through the grades, and has shown his versatility for Queensland for a number of years, often filling in as a second rower.
Cotter even claimed player of the match honours in Game One of 2023 at Adelaide Oval where he shifted into the role after Tom Gilbert dislocated his shoulder.
But with this year’s series on the line, Cotter was happy he would be in the thick of the action come Game Two at the MCG.
“It's great (to be back at lock),” Cotter said. “It is my preferred position.
“I played all my junior footy at lock and debuted at lock.
“There is a bit more thinking involved when you are playing on an edge and being back at lock, I can dial into my game and focus on my job.
“It is my position I have been playing at clubland and I am pretty familiar with that role I am playing in the middle now.
“I am sure we will talk more about (what the role means for the Maroons) as the camp goes on.”
Inside camp: Reece Walsh
While his main focus was on his own performance, Cotter did acknowledge he would be coming up against some formidable opposition in the Blues pack, with captain Isaah Yeo at lock, with Broncos powerhouse Payne Haas back in the side joining Mitch Barnett as a starting prop.
“(Yeo) is a ball player but he is a runner first,” Cotter said.
“Everyone is aware of his game and what he does for their team.
“If you can apply pressure to him, then Nathan Cleary and those blokes out the back have less time, so he is a strong player.
“No doubt Payne will help their middle so we have got a job to do.”
Cotter however had full faith is his own forward pack to do the job and had nothing but praise for the man he was set to replace in the starting 13 role, with rookie Max Plath moving to the bench, giving Slater more options on his bench, given his versatility.
“Plathy is pretty selfless. He hasn't said too much about it,” Cotter said.
“He knows his role for the team and he played great in Game One and did his job.
“I can't fault any of his efforts.”
After being the sole representative from the Cowboys in Game One with Tom Dearden still sidelined with injury, Cotter happy to see two North Queensland teammates Murray Taulagi and Heilum Luki step into camp for the must-win clash at the MCG.
“He's been great and brings a lot of energy to training sessions. He deserves it,” Cotter said. “I'm happy for him and Heilum.”
For Murray, being in camp again after an injury-interrupted season where he has needed time to recover from repeated head knocks was special.
“It's been a massive privilege to come back in this last series and just to be back here in this space means everything to me,” Taulagi said of his recall.
As 19th player, while he may not get onto the field, he was preparing as if he would and was ready for anything.
“It's a very unfamiliar spot I'm in, but you know, anything can happen in the game,” Taulagi said.
“I've just got to prepare like I'm playing, and come Wednesday night, you never know what's going to happen.
“I've taken it with both hands, opportunities like this don't come often.
“I have to make sure I knuckle down, do all the good things, and prepare like I'm going to play, but also prepare the boys that are playing.
“If I do get the opportunity to go out there on the field, I'm just going to give it my all.”
Match: Blues v Maroons
Game 2 -
home Team
Blues
away Team
Maroons
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
A record crowd is set to pack into the MCG for Game Two of the State of Origin series. Tickets are selling fast, so click here to get yours before they sell out.
