Yow Yeh on game day: 'It's like Christmas'
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For Jharal Yow Yeh, State of Origin days are the bomb.
The passionate Queenslander fondly remembers the three games he played for the Queensland Maroons in 2011; the emotions he felt being in camp, the high of running out to the sound of fans cheering loudly and the feeling of crossing for two tries during the series.
While his game days look different now, plenty of those emotions are the same. Yow Yeh will watch the game at home with his wife and young son.
"Yeah, I'm very excited," FOG #172 said.
"You've got all your Queenslander kit ready, you know, to cheer loudly.
"I reckon this is Christmas for rugby league teams, rugby league fans, especially here in Queensland anyway. I'm super excited to be able to watch it.
"It's 100 per cent Christmas. It's literally like Christmas has come early... for everyone here in Queensland, that's what it feels like."
Yow Yeh, who admitted he would find it hard to work today as excitement built for the game, said he was speaking to a friend from New South Wales who could not believe the passion Queenslanders showed for the Maroons.
"He was just like 'I just can't believe how, like, five weeks out and you guys are pumped'... it's just the way it is here. It's just so different.
"He lives here in Queensland now and he goes, 'it's just so different...you guys just get it'.
"Today is a very, very special day."
Yow Yeh said his family had no choice but to join in his excitement; his mum even got into trouble this week for wearing blue to work.
"My mum copped it," he laughed.
"I was just, like, 'be better... just be better... come on'. And she was like, 'oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry'. All good fun."
Yow Yeh said this was the first year since he played he didn't feel nervous.
"I used to get really nervous when I stopped playing but I just don't get nervous anymore," Yow Yeh said.
"I think the other reason is because I just feel so confident with the people who are at the helm and the players that are involved.
"The team that's gathered... it's a team that can get the job done tonight.
"If you look at the people at the helm, I have so much faith in them... I've played with Bill (Slater) and Cam (Smith) and JT. I just know their DNA, you know, in the way they prepare and it would be definitely no different to how they played.
"They would have just shifted their focus in a little way and how they prepare these boys.
"It stops for me with them... whatever they do is the right thing for Queensland and whoever they have picked are the right people to do the job.
"Go Queensland."
