NSW five-eighth Jarome Luai has vowed to attack next week's State of Origin decider with the same intensity he attacked the waves at Homebush's URBNSURF facility on Tuesday morning.
The Blues star was the first player in the water, charging into the manmade wave pool with a boogie board in tow.
Things quickly went pear shaped, with Luai needing to be rescued by the facility's lifeguards.
Luai was a little sheepish when he emerged from the water but declared he will run on to Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night with the same vigour.
"I think my life flashed before my eyes out there," Luai said. "I just attacked it.
"I jumped the gun but I just wanted to attack it head on. I almost died out there, so I'm grateful to be alive."
Match: Maroons v Blues
Game 3 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The Blues' trip to URBNSURF was part recovery session, part bonding session, with the players attempting to surf with varying degrees of success.
Connor Watson was the only noted surfer in the group and while it has been a while since he's taken his board out for a spin, quickly found his feet and caught a number of impressive waves.
Zac Lomax was another quick learner while Matt Burton also had a good time in the pool.
Watson knows first-hand what it's like to be rescued, having once been saved by the father of Raiders hooker Tom Starling at Avoca during a swimming session gone wrong, and was impressed with Luai's intensity as he launched into the water.
"We've all been rescued before," Watson said. "I love where his head's at and that he's just getting stuck in."
The Blues hope Tuesday morning will be Luai's only hiccup before he plays a key role in next week's decider.
The Panthers playmaker has taken on greater responsibility for his club this year with Nathan Cleary recovering from a hamstring injury and that form flowed through to NSW's dominant Game Two victory.
Watson has been impressed with the way he's taken leadership of the Blues attack and is confident Luai and halfback Mitchell Moses can lead the side to a rare NSW victory in a Suncorp Stadium decider.
"He's massive for us," Watson said. "He's been doing such a great job for Penrith, stepping up in that halfback role. He's bringing that to this team as well.
"His leadership, the energy he brings to games and training, it's pretty cool to see. It's been a while since I've been around him so it's been good to come back in the last camp and see how he approaches it.
"We saw what he did in Game Two and I'm looking forward to running back out there with him."
