“I know when teams don’t kick to me, it’s a win for me because I know they’re probably scared something will happen. There are some teams have that mentality of going after certain players. All I know is I’d be keen.”
King, who is promoted to the starting side with Mitch Barnett sidelined for the rest of the year with a ruptured ACL, also welcomed the chance to take the first hit-up.
“We [Canterbury] played Monday against Parramatta, and I took seven or eight off the kick-off. I’ve had plenty of practice.
“If they want to kick it to Spencer, if they want to kick it to Payne, if they want to kick it to me, I’ll do whatever it takes for the team.
“The mindset has to be run it as hard as you can, and if you get smashed, just get up and play it. If they want to kepe kicking to me, they can keep kicking it to me.
“If you take play two, I reckon it’s a tougher carry – I’d probably prefer to take kick-offs than play two.”
Spencer Leniu made his feelings known when Queensland avoided kicking off to him.Credit: Nine
Maroons hardman Tino Fa’asuamaleaui played down suggestions his state was scared of kicking to Leniu ahead of next Wednesday’s second game in Perth, and told local reporters during the week: “Whoever’s in front of us, we’re not taking a backward step, and we’re excited to play.”
The Blues pack dominated Queensland in Brisbane, and another strong performance will go a long way to sealing a series win.
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Utoikamanu, Haas, Fa’asuamaleaui and Leniu are all eligible to play Test football for Samoa at season’s end, but Utoikamanu was thinking of switching his allegiance.
“I’ve represented Samoa, but I’d love the chance to represent Tonga as well,” Utoikamanu said.
“My dad [Kava] is Tongan and mum [Esther] is Samoan. I want to play for both cultures.”
The 24-year-old Leniu was painted as NSW’s biggest villain because of his sideline run-in with Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston at Suncorp Stadium six weeks earlier. Local newspaper The Courier Mail ran a photo of Leniu on their back page the day before the game with the headline, “Smash This Blues Grub”.
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