League: Stuart grumpy in countdown to Origin 2

The controversy involving Queensland forward enforcer Carl Webb is clearly getting under Ricky Stuart's skin.

Irritated by a week-long media campaign talking up Webb's much anticipated rematch with the New South Wales forward pack in the second State of origin match in Sydney tonight, Blues coach Ricky Stuart tried to pour cold water over the issue only to make matters worse.

After making the media wait for more than 30 minutes at NSW's final training session yesterday, a riled Stuart emerged to give a 74-second address before storming off without answering a single question.

The countdown to NSW's must-win Origin match tonight has been dominated by how their pack would defy Maroons enforcer Webb, who savaged Blues prop Luke Bailey in last month's series opener, won 24-20 by Queensland in extra time.

A newspaper report yesterday claimed NSW had sought a clarification from National Rugby League referees' boss Robert Finch on players becoming involved in Origin fights after Webb's fireworks in the first match last month.

Stuart complained after that game that Webb should have been sent off for coming in as a third man to jostle with Bailey who had made a tackle on Queensland's Chris Flannery.

Despite inadvertently starting the Webb hype, Stuart let rip over the issue yesterday despite receiving the good news that centre Mark Gasnier (groin) had been cleared to play.

"From my point of view I am very bored with the Webb speculation, I am very bored with the refereeing -- thank you for your attention here today," Stuart said before storming off in front of a stunned media pack.

A reporter then yelled out: "Can we ask you a question Ricky?"

Stuart offered a muffled "nope" as he walked away.

Far from steeled by NSW's unbeaten record at Telstra Stadium -- eight wins, one draw against Queensland -- Stuart seemed to be feeling the strain in his debut series.

Stuart started possibly Origin's shortest press conference by telling the media how to write their preview.

"I have been getting a lot of media calls today in regards to what angle I will be taking with the press conference at the end of the day," he said.

"I think it is really important from your angle that you should be looking at a positive headline, a positive back page tomorrow, a positive headline tonight in the sport news in regards to what a great game of football we've got in hand.

"We've got two outstanding teams with a very big result at the end of this match.

"So instead of looking at a negative angle I think we should be looking at a real positive vibe to what we have at hand tomorrow night and what's going to be a great game."

Queensland coach Michael Hagan did want to talk about the referee Steve Clark yesterday.

Hagan said tonight's match loomed as one of Origin's great encounters but it could be marred if Clark, handling his third Origin, allowed NSW to get out of the defensive blocks too early, stifling Queensland's power game.

But everyone else -- except Stuart -- wanted to talk about the forwards clash.

Former NSW captain Tommy Raudonikis, who held a testimonial lunch yesterday, couldn't wait.

"Carl Webb is the enforcer, thank god we've got him back in rugby league -- things can get exciting," he told Fox Sports.

"I thought what he did in that game was great.

"I tell you a funny thing, I spoke to (former Maroons skipper) Gorden Tallis a couple of hours before that game in Brisbane and he told me that Queensland feared no one in the NSW pack -- and that was true.

"Carl Webb came on and made a joke of it."

Former NSW captain Ben Elias said Webb wouldn't get away with a repeat performance tonight.

"I can assure you ... if he even tries to put away any of those actions in game two, he will pay the price," he said.

The forward debate -- and Stuart's refusal to enter it -- took the focus off NSW halfback Andrew Johns, who returns to Origin despite playing just one game in eight weeks due to a broken jaw.

Meanwhile, NSW centre Mark Gasnier has overcome a groin strain and been passed fit for the match at Telstra Stadium tonight.

Manly backrower Anthony Watmough has been named as the new 18th man after Penrith's Luke Lewis was placed on standby for Gasnier last week.

* State of Origin line-ups

Teams for the second State of Origin rugby league match in Sydney tonight:-

New South Wales: Anthony Minichiello, Matt King, Matt Cooper, Mark Gasnier, Luke Rooney, Braith Anasta, Andrew Johns, Ben Kennedy, Nathan Hindmarsh, Craig Fitzgibbon, Jason Ryles, Danny Buderus (captain), Luke Bailey.

Interchange: Craig Wing, Steve Simpson, Andrew Ryan, Steve Menzies.

Queensland: Billy Slater, Ty Williams, Shaun Berrigan, Paul Bowman, Matt Sing, Darren Lockyer (captain), Johnathan Thurston, Chris Flannery, Michael Crocker, Carl Webb, Petero Civoniceva, Cameron Smith, Brad Thorn.

Interchange: Ben Ross, Dane Carlaw, Matt Bowen, Casey McGuire.

- AAP