NSW have blasted speakers and turned up the volume to the maximum in an attempt to prepare for the ferocity of a parochial Queensland crowd at Suncorp Stadium.
Blues players had their first full opposed sessions in the Blue Mountains on Thursday against a St Marys side featuring Stephen Crichton’s brother Christian.
Bradman Best again sat out training as Blues officials managed his tight hamstring, while Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was back in NSW camp again.
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But with no students at Blue Mountains Grammar, NSW took full advantage by blasting up the decibels and trying to recreate the Suncorp experience.
Rock music blasted from the speakers before the players ran out, while a loud crowd noise with drums beating and different play calls were heard.
“We were getting used to the noise,” halfback Mitch Moses said.
“It’s going to be loud up there. It’s just helping us be able to adapt to the noise, being able to talk out there to each other.
“It will be useful getting a feel for it on the field and how we can react to the noise.
“We’re focused on being extra clear in talking to each other about what we need to do and where we need to get to.”
The Blues are well aware how difficult winning a decider at Suncorp Stadium is.
They have been reminded all week by the media that the Blues have won only two of the 13 deciders played in Brisbane.
The last six deciders there have all gone Queensland’s way, including in 2020 and 2022 when the Blues entered with big wins in Origin II.
But NSW are adamant they will not be daunted by the Suncorp experience and will instead embrace it.
“It’s an incredible stadium to play at, 50,000 hostile fans,” second-rower Liam Martin told AAP.
“Once you run out, it’s all the same. A 70m-by-120m field. It doesn’t really change.
“It’s enjoyable. You soak it all in running out. And then once you’re out there, it’s all the same.”
Meanwhile, Blues officials are hopeful Best will be able to get through their next opposed session on Saturday, after being managed through the start of the week.
Even with Suaalii now in camp and having served his four-match ban for hitting Reece Walsh high in Origin I, he is not eligible to come in for the Blues unless there is a fresh injury.
Under NRL rules, players cannot be brought in to feature in an Origin match from outside the 20-man squad, without an exemption due to an injury suffered in camp.
Best’s ailment would not qualify as one, given he felt the hamstring tightness before the squad was named and it is therefore a pre-existing injury.
Matt Burton is in the squad as 18th man and has filled in for Best on the left at training, while Suaalii will remain in the camp and fly up to Queensland with the squad.
“Joey is the ultimate squad member, he’s been massive,” Moses said.
“He’s come in and been suspended for the last few weeks. He’s probably got every right to go, ‘nah, I’m just going to relax and worry about the Roosters’.
“He’s come in and put the team first and been a help wherever he could be.”
