NSW debutant Robson has felt Origin-ready ‘for years’

Jasper Bruce | June 14, 2023

Reece Robson has felt State of Origin-ready for years. 

But it wasn’t until beating his soon-to-be NSW teammates to the team hotel on Monday night that it finally hit him he would be pulling the Blue jersey on at Suncorp Stadium.

Coach Brad Fittler called the North Queensland hooker on Monday to tell him he would form one half of a one-two dummy-half punch in the must-win second game of the series on June 21.

He and South Sydney veteran Damien Cook will replace Api Koroisau, who misses through a jaw injury.

While his teammates arrived at the Blues’ Coogee camp on Tuesday morning, being based in Townsville meant Robson flew down Monday afternoon.

He admitted he received more than a few intrigued looks from footy fans at the airport.

“It’s a pretty small place, Townsville. (They said) good luck, but they’re all Queenslanders up there so they probably didn’t mean it,” Robson quipped.

As speculation swirled as to who would be named in the team on Tuesday morning, Robson arrived at the team hotel and later sat down to dinner with Fittler and his selection team Andrew Johns, Greg Alexander and Danny Buderus.

As he spent the evening with the Blues’ masterminds, it finally began to sink in he was about to achieve a boyhood dream.

“I always thought I’d hopefully be ready when the call did come,” Robson said.

“Maybe for the last couple of years (I have felt ready).

“Obviously there are great players with Damien and Api in front of me there so I’ve just been trying to play the best footy I can.

“It sort of all got pretty realistic when I walked in and I’m getting all the congratulations from the coaching staff. It all sunk in then.”

Robson impressed Cook as a member of the Blues’ extended squad last year.

“It was only a matter of time before Reece was going to wear this jersey,” Cook said.

“He came into camp with us before and I thought then he had the skill-set, he had the toughness. 

“He’s going to thrive in this arena.”

Cook’s return to the Origin side could hardly have come in more different circumstances. 

The 31-year-old played 15 consecutive Origin games before being dropped in favour of Koroisau for the series opener.

With Koroisau’s form and performance in Game I, Cook had made peace with not playing for the remainder of the series.

“If (Koroisau) wasn’t injured, he probably would’ve played all three games and started all three games,” Cook said.

“Especially when he did a good job. They didn’t win the game but I don’t think he would’ve been in any doubt.”

Cook is relishing another chance to wear the sky blue strip.

“When the phone call finally came it was sort of the same feeling as when I first ever got the call to come into NSW camp,” Cook said.