Parramatta's front-row power fuels Blues opener
A one-two punch with Junior Paulo has helped Reagan Campbell-Gillard reignite his State of Origin career, with the combination to lead the Blues pack in Game I.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard reckoned his chance to play State of Origin had passed him by, but the Parramatta front-rower reserved special praise for the impact Junior Paulo has had on his Eels career.
Campbell-Gillard made his Origin debut in 2018 while at Penrith before moving to Parramatta the following year.
Injuries and the form of other props have kept him out of the side, with Paulo one of the forwards who moved ahead of Campbell-Gillard in the pecking order for a NSW spot.
“I thought it had passed me by and I’m lucky to get a shot,” Campbell-Gillard said.
“I still feel there are a lot of better front-rowers. I feel like I’ve been playing the same way each year but can’t put my finger on what it is.
“I am enjoying life outside of football and that’s reflected in how I’m playing.”
Paulo is named to start while Campbell-Gillard will come off the bench on Wednesday night, meaning there may be little time that the pair spend alongside each other on the field.
Regardless, Paulo claimed that Campbell-Gillard’s recall was richly deserved.
“His form has been outstanding this year and we’ve got a great one-two punch combination,” he said.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to play alongside him at this level. He’s been killing it and you could definitely say that (he is in career best form).”
NSW players enjoyed their last proper rest before the series opener, catching a late-night movie on Sunday night before a day off training on Monday.
They will have a light captain’s run on Tuesday, before close to 80,000 are expected at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night for Sydney’s biggest post-pandemic crowd.
And Paulo and Campbell-Gillard will enter the arena knowing just how dangerous they can be together.
The pair have built one of the most-effective front-row partnerships in the NRL and as a team, only Penrith have run for more metres than the Eels this season.
Parramatta also top the competition for offloads and completed sets.
A big part of that is how Campbell-Gillard and Paulo get them going forward with the likes of Ryan Matterson, who will make his NSW debut, coming off the bench and continuing that good work.
“Our combination has been building really nicely and it’s the best I’ve had as a front-row partner,” Campbell-Gillard added.
“It’s normally me who is taking the ugly hit-up on play one for Junior, but his skill level is off the charts.
“I just have to get them rolling and I think that’s where he comes in.
“He’s got a great passing game, he is a freak and his skill level is incredible and his soft hands put doubt in the defence.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
1 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
3 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
3 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
19 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to comments