Tom Trbojevic is only two games into his NRL career but already the Manly flyer is mimicking Queensland great Billy Slater as part of the Blues' preparation.
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Trbojevic was given the task of playing the role of Slater during two intense opposed sessions against the NSW side at Coffs Harbour. The 18-year-old joined Greg Bird, Matt Moylan, Tyson Frizell and Ryan James plus a host of fringe NRL players to oppose the NSW team.
Trbojevic said the Blues took no pity on him during the 45 minute hit-out when he was greeted with cries of "Slater" every time he touched the ball.
"I don't know [how hard] they were going but I was getting hit pretty hard sometimes," Trbojevic said. "There were a couple [of big shots]. Because I was running as Slater and they want to be aggressive on him I was getting hit and pushed back a couple of times. You've just got to take it.
"It was different, very different."
The rookies joined the Blues squad on Saturday and will be at Wednesday's game. Trbojevic gave his injured ankle a stern test having returned to play just one under-20s match after damaging it in his second NRL game in April.
"It's been awesome getting in and training with the boys playing Origin," Trbojevic said. "It's been a great experience. Just how intense everyone is and the communication. Every aspect of the game is so much quicker, so much more physical.
"You see the players how they hold themselves, and the way they are off the field. Grab onto some of those attributes and try and mimic them on and off the field and to try and achieve these one day. You look around and you see all these players and it's pretty surreal."
Bird and Moylan spent most of the session in the halves, in what was the Blues' final big hit-out before Wednesday's game. They will have Monday off and then the traditional captain's run on Tuesday.
Back-rower Ryan Hoffman said the opposed game was an important part of the side's preparations.
"Birdy was too busy worried about kicking 40/20s and throwing 20-metre cut-out passes," Hoffman joked. "He was good. He knows what this week is all about and the preparation we need.
"When you train just with each other and you go up against no opposition you look like you could take on the world but that's not what it's going to be like on Wednesday. We are going to have blokes up on our faces so we have to get our timing right and that's why we have those opposed sessions."
