Front-rower Spencer Leniu has attracted plenty of attention leading into the first Origin game, with the local tabloid newspaper featuring a photo of him and the headline “Smash This Blues Grub” on Tuesday.
Spencer Leniu at Wednesday’s team walkCredit: Grant Trouville/NRL
But King, who is an assistant coach at the Sydney Roosters with Leniu, defended his player, saying: “I just want to make it very clear Spencer Leniu’s character is without question – he’s a very good man, very humble, and when he plays footy, we know he plays on the edge of the line.
“Spencer has done things in the past he’d like to have over. I’ve got every confidence tonight Spencer Leniu will play his game.
“We saw last year what he did in the blue jumper, the impact he had for us, the impact he had on Queensland, and we’re expecting nothing different.
“Spencer is a good man, everyone in our camp, everyone in our state backs him. We love him, and we can’t wait for him to go tonight.”
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Payne Haas will also play, despite being troubled by his own quad injury, which has restricted his training time with the main group in camp.
Coach Laurie Daley is back at the helm after eight years, and looking to start his NSW second coming in style. The Blues won the decider in game three at Suncorp last year. NSW last won back-to-back games in the Queensland capital in 1997 and 1998.
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