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'It was tame out there': Blues' backrower Liam Martin says Queensland had no chat
By
AAP
After being cast as a “grub” by the Queensland media, NSW forward Liam Martin is relishing the prospect of having the last laugh at the Maroons’ expense in next month’s State of Origin decider in Brisbane.
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The Blues backrower was everywhere for Brad Fittler’s side on Sunday night as they squared the series in Perth with a 44-12 shellacking of Queensland.
The mild-mannered Penrith forward had a big week, when he woke up on Wednesday to see he had been depicted as the most-hated man in Queensland since former NSW captain Paul Gallen.
Now with the series tied, Martin has the chance to rub some more salt into the wounds with a winner-takes-all decider at Suncorp Stadium on July 13.
“It was tame out there, there wasn’t sledging from either team,” Martin said.
“They (Queensland) didn’t have much to say, they probably didn’t buy into it (the media talk) too much.
“We played the whole series up there last year. I sort of enjoyed the atmosphere, with the whole of Queensland just giving it to you.
“I’m really looking forward to it being a decider up there.”
The 25-year-old and his fellow Blues forwards will have to replicate the gritty display shown in Perth if they are to have any hope of conquering Queensland in Brisbane.
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NSW haven’t won a decider in Brisbane since 2005.
The selection of Jake Trbojevic in the front row gave NSW the upper hand in the middle, with the flow-on effect resulting in the Blues blowing Queensland away in the second half.
“I love playing alongside him, he goes out there to fold people in half,” Martin said.
“I’ve nicknamed him ‘The Axe’ because he just chops blokes.
“He keeps going – he’s got a really big motor – and he’ll go all game if you ask him to. He killed it.”
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