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Frizell wants WA fans to back Blues in Perth Origin

NSW Blues forward Tyson Frizell knows next year's historic State of Origin venture into Perth will be a moment to savour. What he's not sure of is which team neutral fans will get behind.

Since 1990, nine Holden State of Origin matches have been played on neutral territory in Melbourne but the crowd support has been anything but 50/50.

Whether it was the presence of so many Melbourne Storm stars in the Maroons side, or simply a distaste for all things NSW, the "neutrals" in the southern capital have thrown their support behind Queensland.

When league's showpiece heads to Perth on June 23, 2019, Frizell is hoping the defending Origin champions can win over the crowd and potentially wrap up the series.

"If we can start well and win the first game [in Brisbane] then we'll need a lot of NSW fans over there in Perth to get behind us and get us over the line,” Frizell told NRL.com.

"It's a sensational stadium in Perth but we don't know what to expect from the fans.

NSW Blues forward Tyson Frizell.
NSW Blues forward Tyson Frizell. ©NRL Photos

"There will be lots of people watching Origin for the first time so hopefully, we can convert them into Blues fans. Origin is a game like no other and Perth fans will be looking forward to it.

"We'll need lots of our NSW fans to travel over as well and make a weekend of it and give us a lift."

With the series opener in Brisbane and game two in Perth, the task of becoming the first NSW team to win back-to-back series since 2005 is a daunting one, but Frizell is adamant the Blues will be ready.

"It feels a long way off but planning has started already and Brad Fittler has named a 32-man squad for a camp in December," Frizell said.

"He'll be putting a lot of thought into it already and all the boys are excited about trying to defend the title.

“We had a very young squad this year and all those guys want to be part of it again.”

Fittler's men need look no further than the Maroons in 2009 and 2012 for evidence that the reigning champs can defend their title despite playing the first two games away from home.

In 2009, Darren Lockyer's Maroons took out the first match in Melbourne and game two in Sydney to wrap up a fourth series win in a row.

Three years later, Queensland again won the opener in Melbourne but then lost the second match in Sydney before returning home to Suncorp Stadium to win the decider. 

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