After being brought into the Blues' camp to mentor new-look centres pairing Jack Wighton and Tom Trbojevic ahead of Sunday's second game at Perth's Optus Stadium, NSW State of Origin legend Mark Gasnier announced he has complete faith they'll succeed.
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With the series going on the line at Perth Gasnier, largely considered one of Blues' greatest three-quarters, said the duo has the skillset to break the potentially series-deciding clash wide open.
That comes despite the fact they've, combined, played just 25 of 224 NRL appearances on the three-quarter-line.
I've seen enough to think they're going to go (well), absolutely. There's not one ounce of doubt in regards to that, not at all.
- Mark Gasnier, on NSW's new-look centres
"Judging on how good they were, I probably feel like a bit of an intruder," Gasnier said following Wednesday's field sessions.
"I don't think they need me. They looked really comfortable today. It was really pleasing.
"I've seen enough to think they're going to go (well), absolutely. There's not one ounce of doubt in regards to that, not at all."
Twenty-one of Wighton's NRL appearances have been at centre so he's, comparatively and arugably, better-placed than Trbojevic but the Orange product's task in marking Queensland veteran Will Chambers is a tough one.
Focusing solely on Wighton, Gasnier pointed to the 26-year-old's athleticism, football knowledge and footwork as major reasons he can best Chambers, who has 11 Origin appearances under his belt.
"I have called a lot of Jack and seen a lot of Jack, but he's a pretty good student of the game," Gasnier said.
"Once you explain things, I think he's very adaptable to situations and able to absorb information really quickly and digest it.
"I think it puts him in good stead.He's such a strong boy as well. I think that's an important thing in Origin."
Orange-born Penrith five-eighth James Maloney, recalled to the Blues' squad for game two, also received support from a somewhat unlikely source in the lead-up to Sunday.
Munster had a field day against NSW in game one and was right in the mix for man of the match honours.
One thing he admires about Maloney, the man he must stop in the middle of Optus Stadium, is that he keeps trying for the big play, even if it failed to come off the first couple of times.
"I like what Maloney brings to a team," Munster said.
"I'm sure other people do as well. He's always looking to do something. He's never willing to let it happen, he makes sure it happens.
"At the end of the day, you don't want 'coulda, woulda, shoulda'. Sometimes I've had that feeling after a game and I've felt like shit, and that's something I don't want to feel."
Sunday's second game kicks off at 7.50pm (AEST).
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Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
