Sportsnewsfirst.com.au

By Nathan Ryan

3 February 2012 04:05PM EST

Sam Thaiday says Origin history will help the All Stars. Getty Images

INDIGENOUS All Star Sam Thaiday believes the playing history

between teammates largely made up of the Queensland Origin

side will give them an upper hand ahead of Saturday’s battle

with the NRL All Stars.

Comprised largely of Gold Coast Titans, Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney

Rabbitohs’, the playing history of the footballers makes working on combinations

a dream, according to the Broncos skipper.

“They’ve kind of been thrown together from all different teams where we’ve got

little combinations within club teams,” Thaiday said at the conclusion of their

final training run at Skilled Park.

“That always helps out in terms of performance.”

With a large Maroon presence in the squad, the nucleus of the group was easily

formed which also allowed coach Laurie Daley the ability to effortlessly have his

players execute set pieces while training.

“These games you are only together for a week so the more combinations you

have in those teams the better,” Thaiday said.

“I think with most of us playing together in State of Origin’s that right hand side,

myself Jharal (Yow Yeh) and Justin (Hodges), it’s a great little combo there with

(Johnathan) Thurston who plays with us just helps out a whole heap.”

A loss last year has the two side’s locked at a win apiece with the added incentive

of winning the match, playing in the honour of groundbreaking indigenous leader

Arthur Beetson, the All Stars have all the incentives they need to claim victory.

“We don’t need any more motivation, there’s plenty of motivation there,” Thaiday said.

“It’s one all at the moment so hopefully we can make it 2-1, I think we’ve got the

best team we’ve had out of the three games.

“Everyone’s fit and ready to play where in past seasons we’ve had blokes out with

injuries so it’s really good to see probably the best Indigenous side we have seen.

“Hopefully at the end of the game we can hold the Artie Beetson trophy up.”

Although the indigenous backline boasts an all star cast of superstars, Thaiday

said the game will be won in the forwards and with both sides sporting giant packs,

the unlimited interchange will play into the hands of the indigenous side.

“We’ve got some big boys in Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Andrew Fafita, Jamal Idris,

George Rose and myself,” he said.

“It’s going to be a very even contest.

“They’ve probably got some guys who can last longer (but the interchange) helps

our bog boys out.

“We’ve got some blokes there who can play 10-20 minutes at high intensity.”