26 May 2014

Watmough likes spirit in NSW camp

7:41 am on 26 May 2014

The experienced back-rower Anthony Watmough claims the team spirit in the current NSW rugby league side is the best he's experienced since making his State of Origin debut nine year ago.

Watmough played in one game in the last series won by the Blues in 2005, but has been in and out of the team ever since, finding himself the victim of the constant chopping and changing by selectors.

Wednesday's clash in Brisbane will be only his 13th Origin appearance, and last year under Laurie Daley was the first time the Manly and Test star had played in all three games of a series.

The 30-year-old believes that because most of the same players have been in and around the team for the last three years a tight bond has formed and was strengthened by spending five days in camp in the unfamiliar surrounds of Coffs Harbour.

He says the current squad is the closest team he's been a part of.