League: Stuart stirs Blues' passion ahead of Origin 1

Turning the tables on old foe Queensland, NSW coach Ricky Stuart today said pride and emotion would be the key to a Blues victory in the State of Origin rugby league opener in Brisbane on Wednesday night.

After watching Queensland draw on tradition during his 14 games as a NSW player, Stuart has relished the chance to inject a new-found passion in the Blues jersey on his Origin rugby league coaching debut.

Just like past Queensland teams, Stuart has tugged at his players' heart-strings in the countdown to game one, surrounding his team with constant reminders of NSW Origin success.

After adding successful former players John Cartwright and Dean Pay to his NSW coaching staff, Stuart last week organised a Sydney team dinner attended by almost every Blues skipper.

Stuart has also planned a 25-year Origin reunion for all former Blues players on the night of Origin 2 at Sydney on June 15.

Fuelling Stuart's "us against them" resolve is the fact Queensland will be the bookmakers' favourite for the first time in the series' 25 year history.

Speaking at a sponsor's lunch today, Stuart gave his team a not-so-subtle reminder of what he expected against Queensland with two words prevalent - pride and passion.

"Origin football is probably the toughest test for an individual," he said.

"I've brought two blokes into camp, Johnny Cartwright and Dean Pay, whom I've played with and roomed with and dearly love - that's what Origin is about to me.

"It comes back to that individual performance.

"It's a game of football that's so fast, fueled on emotion and passion that players with a weakness, they find an extra strength.

"That's how players get a name. You hear the (Wally) Lewises, the (Trevor) Gillmeisters, Paul Harragons, your Mal Meningas.

"Those people own a little bit of Origin football because they consistently stood up year in, year out, and performed at the greatest level."

Stuart said he wanted his side to "own a bit of Origin" on Wednesday night.

"It's like Wally (Lewis) said, Origin is about squeezing that little bit extra out your body when you're thinking there is nothing left.

"That is so Origin.

"You got different runs, different tackles in Origin, and it's up to the individual to squeeze the last drop out of the lemon.

"It's up to each individual when he takes the field to see how much he can get out of himself and how far he can push his body."

Stuart - who tasted victory in three of the four Origin series he played - was looking forward to his NSW coaching debut.

"I get nervous, but I don't think it's a bad thing.

"I get nervous because I fear losing.

"I'm always confident though when I take a team to a match and Wednesday will be no different.'

"Origin footy comes down to that last minute and you hope you're still in the battle.

"It's an old cliche but it's true, the team that makes the most of their opportunities will win the match.

"That's what Origin is about, it's that type of contest."

Stuart did not believe Queensland skipper Darren Lockyer should feel nervous after his "protector", lock Tonie Carroll, was ruled out with a calf injury on Sunday.

Carroll - replaced by Casey McGuire - was expected to absorb the NSW defence and keep Lockyer fresh and at his match-winning best.

"To think there's only one protector who can look after Darren Lockyer... I wish that was the case," Stuart said.

"But I know the person who fills in will well and truly be up to the job.

"Casey McGuire is going to be quite hungry early in his career but they do lose a player who has performed at this level - you can make your own conclusion on that."

Stuart admitted Lockyer would still be targeted.

"We all understand the great players are targeted the most by your attack because you want them to do as much work as possible, whether its Darren Lockyer, Andrew Johns, Brett Kimmorley or Danny Buderus - that's going to happen," he said.

"I'm expecting that with (NSW halves) Brett Kimmorley and Trent Barrett on the other side of the field."

- AAP