Ricky Stuart puts emphasis on enjoyment in NSW camp, says captain Paul Gallen

NSW captain Paul Gallen has conceded the Blues have been too preoccupied with the star-studded Queensland line-up over the past five seasons and that the enjoyment factor has been missing from Origin camps.

The Blues assembled at the team hotel at Coogee yesterday to begin their preparations as they try and halt a losing streak which stretches to five series.
Former NSW coaches Graham Murray and Craig Bellamy were unable to come up with the game plan to halt their momentum and even Ricky Stuart has said he would be happy to win just one game this series, given Queensland boasts a near all-Australia backline and pack.
"One thing we've been caught up in the past few years _ certainly when I've been here _ is we worried too much about Queensland and worried about tactics to try to put them off the game and I don't think that's the answer.  Well, it hasn't been the answer," Gallen said.
"We had some very technical camps and they were good. We did everything well to prepare but we might have missed the enjoyment factor of what we're here for.
"That's one thing Ricky has spoken about and that's what he's going to bring back, just enjoying each others' company, becoming friends and having a good time.
"We've got enough talent here to know what we've got to do. It's all about bringing us together and making us want to play for each other. That's Ricky's job and that's what he'll be good at."
Blues hooker Michael Ennis agreed there had been too much focus on the Queensland team which boasts bonafide superstars in Darren Lockyer, Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston.
"You can sometimes over emphasise the Queensland side because it has been so successful, but I just get the feeling it's going to be about us and our preparation," Ennis said.
"It's important that we get focused on how we're going to play rather than worry about what Queensland is going to throw at us.
"Queensland will always demand the respect that they get because they are a great side, but this side is a good side and there's no reason why we can't compete."
Gallen was happy to sing the praises of his team yesterday with speculation already brewing that the uncompromising pack will try and bash the Maroons off the park in Game I.
Gallen is joined up front by no shortage of hard-nosed forwards including St George Illawarra's Beau Scott and his former Cronulla "bash brother" turned Gold Coast utility Greg Bird.
"It's a start of a new era for NSW rugby league," Gallen said. "Our forward pack is tough and uncompromising.
"(Jason) King is big and aggressive, Kade Snowden's big and aggressive and we've got a solid backrow.
"I wouldn't say we're going to go out there and bash them. We're going to go out there and play our game.
"I think this is a great side with experience and youth and enthusiasm."
Gallen declared Bird as essential to the Blues hopes of wrestling back Origin glory.
"It'll be good to see my old mate," he said. "If there's such a thing as a rep player, he's a rep player. Every time he pulls on a blue jersey or a green and gold jersey, he's man of the match in a lot of them.
"He's suited to this type of footy and he's going to be huge for us.
"He's uncompromising, he's tough, he's aggressive, he plays with passion and thoroughly deserves his spot. It's going to be good to play with him again."
Gallen also said the kicking games of Jamie Soward and Mitchell Pearce would aid NSW and that coach Ricky Stuart, who he worked with at Cronulla, would have been working tirelessly at looking at ways to topple the imposing Maroons.