Paps puts hand up for Origin utility role with Blues
Melissa Woods |
While all the State of Origin buzz is around Ryan Papenhuyzen, the Melbourne fullback believes teammate Josh King deserves to be in the NSW selection mix.
Papenhuyzen gave his hopes of an Origin debut a major boost, scoring four tries in the Storm’s 64-0 shellacking of Wests Tigers on Sunday.
While the competition to wear the Blues’ No.1 jersey is fierce, with incumbent Dylan Edwards, former skipper James Tedesco and Latrell Mitchell in contention, Papenhuyzen said he’d take any Origin opportunity on offer.
“I’d love a crack but there’s some other guys that are putting their hand up at the moment and playing some really good footy, and obviously (NSW) coming off an the Origin series win,” Papenhuyzen said.
“I’m not expecting anything, just keep trying to play well here and if I come into the squad somewhere, that’s great.
“We do what’s best for the state and if (returning coach) Laurie (Daley) thinks that’s me, then I will give it a crack but we’ll see what happens.”
The 26-year-old spent almost his entire debut NRL season coming off the bench and would be happy to fill a utility role for NSW, with the teams set to be named next Sunday ahead of Origin I on June 18 in Perth.
“I’d play anywhere. The theme of the Blues is, if you put on the Blues jersey, you’re happy to play anywhere.
“There’s times when we are giving (hooker) Bronson (Garlick) a breather, and I hop into dummy half for a bit.
“I guess, defensively, I’d just have to do a little bit more work but as a new face in the squad I’m sure they’d help me and and teach me a lot, but yeah, I’d be happy to do whatever.”
Papenhuyzen felt the spotlight deserves to be shone on Storm prop King, who is one of the most consistent performers in their stacked line-up and a linchpin of their forward pack.
He also knows his way to the tryline, having scored three times in their nine games this season including a try in their West Tigers’ thrashing.
“I think it’s probably the unfortunate thing about being in Melbourne, you probably don’t get the accolades that you deserve as you’re not in the Sydney papers every week,” Papenhuyzen said of 30-year-old King.
“We know the job that Kingy does for us and we know the job he’d do if he did get selected for NSW.
“It’s hard to sort of seeing other guys spoken about it, at other teams, but you just know that anyone in our forward pack is capable of playing representative footy.”
AAP
