Church on Maroons opposed: 'A real good lesson'
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The Queensland Maroons are ripping in at Sanctuary Cove ahead of State of Origin Game II, determined to perform at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday.
The Brisbane Tigers Hostplus Cup side - a side both Cameron Munster and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui played for on their journey to the Maroons - joined them for an opposed session.
The Tigers are sitting fourth on the ladder and coach Matt Church said the experience would help boost them going into Round 14.
Church said there was "a good vibe" on the bus on the way to the session.
"The boys were probably a little bit more nervous than excited, but all looking forward to the opportunity," Church said, adding there was plenty all of the boys would take away from it.
"It's always a great opportunity when you can come up against the best.
"That ability just for our guys to see the Origin side and how they go about it... Origin is the elite of the elite. It's a real good lesson for our guys.
"Just the level in which they do it and the speed in which they do it... it's the thing that they notice... the fact that everyone's moving, they all keep moving.
"No one gets the rest. They're always pushing up around the ball and the, you know, the lines that they run."
Tigers hooker Tristan Hope said it was "a really, really good experience".
"It helps us with our preparation for our little mini rivalry with Sunny Coast on Sunday," Hope said.
Match: Tigers v Falcons
Round 14 -
home Team
Tigers
5th Position
away Team
Falcons
9th Position
Venue: Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane
"Everyone was obviously excited to come down... you don't always get an opportunity to come down and have a hit out with the Queensland Maroons."
Hope said for him, it was good to see how the Maroons went about their business and he particularly enjoyed seeing how fellow hooker Harry Grant went about doing things.
"The way that they go about everything, it's so quick and clinical," Hope said.
"And they're straight onto it as soon as Billy Slater said 'right, let's go boys'. They're into it. They're into their roles, they know what they're doing. It's a very professional outfit.
"The way that they go about their business is so professional... they're having a muck around before training and as soon as Bill said 'let's go', they were straight into it and that's something that we can do at our level.
"Obviously being a No.9, seeing Harry go about his business was really good. He actually skinned me one time with Reece Walsh too... I was happy to give him a big of confidence before Wednesday.
"Glad to be of assistance."
