Maguire confirms NSW respects Queensland 'very much', plans to say it again tomorrow

SPORT · FIELD REPORT

NSW coach Michael Maguire has spent 60% of this week's press conferences assuring reporters that the Blues have enormous respect for the Maroons ahead of Origin Game I on 27 May.

Michael Maguire, 52, has today confirmed to gathered journalists at Accor Stadium that New South Wales respects Queensland, respects their attack, and respects their historical record in the competition.

The head coach of the Blues spent approximately three hours and forty minutes this week in front of microphones, distributing these sentiments across three separate press conferences held in a corporate boardroom at Moore Park, a basement media room at a Parramatta RSA club, and, crucially, a coffee shop in Strathfield where a reporter from the *Sporting Globe* asked him how he was feeling about the match.

Reports from the media enclosure suggest Maguire addressed the topic of his respect for Queensland while holding a Vittoria coffee cup, while standing, and while seated on a plastic chair beside a whiteboard that bore the notation "RESPECT - NON-NEGOTIABLE". He is also understood to have respected Queensland on the phone to Triple M on Wednesday morning at 7:17am.

Mitch Moses, 31, has been locked in to start at five-eighth for the Blues. A spokesperson for Moses confirmed he has told his property manager in Neutral Bay, his accountant, and his wife that he is in fact very ready, adding that he had "prepared well" and "known the gameplan for a while now".

Selwyn Cobbo, the Queensland centres prospect, was named in the Maroons squad on Tuesday. At the same moment, the Queensland media apparatus began publishing columns headlined variations of "They Know We're Coming" and "Scared Straight", sourced from unnamed Maroons insiders and one pub in Fortitude Valley.

Channel Nine's promotional campaign for the fixture features a 11-second slow-motion sequence of Reece Walsh, 21, staring at a NSW navy jersey in a wind tunnel. The footage was filmed on Tuesday, cost approximately $240,000 to produce, and has been scheduled to air during every ad break between now and kick-off, including during the 11:40pm replay of *Millionaires’ Row* on Wednesday evening.

Cameron Munster's knee complaint is, according to Queensland team management, "tracking well". At press time, Maguire had scheduled a fourth press conference for Friday, during which he planned to inform reporters of his continued respect for Queensland's "spine", their "attitude to defence", and, reportedly, "the way they run with the footy".

We have huge respect for what Queensland brings. That's just Origin footy. You earn that respect every time you pull the jersey on.— Michael Maguire, NSW coach

Filed by Pete Clark — The Brainrot Desk