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Campbell-Gillard to fight for Origin shot

3 minute read

Parramatta prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard was disappointed not to get a call up for the NSW Origin side but has not given up hope of a Blues jersey.

REAGAN CAMPBELL-GILLARD.
REAGAN CAMPBELL-GILLARD. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Reagan Campbell-Gillard missed out on selection in the NSW squad but hasn't given up hope of forcing his case for State of Origin II.

The in-form Parramatta prop was disappointed not to get a call from coach Brad Fittler last Sunday after spending all of last year's series in the Blues squad on the Central Coast.

"It is what it is, I'm just happy that I'm playing football," the 27-year-old said.

"There's still two more games to go so anything can happen."

Teammate Junior Paulo was the only Eels player picked in the Blues team, while hooker Reed Mahoney has been released from the Queensland side to face Newcastle on Sunday.

Mahoney's inclusion will be a huge boost for the Eels who need a win against their 2001 grand final foes at McDonald Jones Stadium.

The past fortnight has been rough on Brad Arthur's men with two big losses to Manly and South Sydney knocking them out of second place on the NRL ladder.

It has cost fellow NSW Origin hopeful Blake Ferguson his spot in first grade, with Arthur dropping the off-contract winger to reserves for the match.

"That's football. We've got to learn from it and that's pretty much what we've done," Campbell-Gillard said of the past two losses.

"This week we've addressed it and I feel that we're going to be going in the right direction this week.

"It's probably not about changing our way, it's just key moments that are really hurting us.

"When we don't stick to our game plan and play a different type of football that's not us, than that's where the frustration and errors, simple things come in that are costing us."

Meanwhile, the Knights will field a vastly different forward pack for Old Boys' Day with Daniel Saifti called into the Blues team, David Klemmer serving a suspension and Tyson Frizell sidelined with an ankle injury.

Fullback Kalyn Ponga was released from Queensland camp as he battles a groin injury that is taking longer to heal than originally expected.

However, Jake Clifford will make his club debut from the bench after being released from North Queensland last week.

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