No laughing matter for Dragons trying to stop Campbell-Gillard
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There were some quirky one-liners about Reagan Campbell-Gillard flying thick and fast underneath WIN Stadium this week.
Some of the St George Illawarra forwards had finished their video on Campbell-Gillard a few hours earlier and were still trying to work out how to stop him.
While being interviewed about his 150th NRL game against his former club Penrith, Jeremy Latimore had no shortage of teammates trying to throw his concentration.
And almost always the conversation would turn to Penrith's chief enforcer.
"Jimmy Graham reckons he's going out there to turn one on and is going after Campbell-Gillard,'' said Latimore, as Graham loomed and pretended to ask a question.
"That's what he said this morning.''
Graham smiled and walked off before he turned and pleaded: "Please don't put that in.''
A smiling Latimore then fired back: "Are you scared of 'Reg'? You were talking it up this morning.''
On another occasion, Tariq Sims, Campbell-Gillard's cousin, had something to say before Latimore said: "I'm talking about your better-playing cousin, Reggie.
"I'd say Tariq has the bigger hit, but don't quote me because I don't want Reg coming after me.''
Latimore was on the Penrith bench with Campbell-Gillard when he made his debut in 2015, and had nothing but praise for the Panthers junior.
The battle between the Dragons' brilliant forward pack and the Panthers big boys - led by moustached monster Campbell-Gillard - will be dynamite in the middle of a packed Panthers Stadium.
"Reg has come a long way the last couple of years, and even just watching the clips of him, he comes out of the line and tries to hurt blokes,'' Latimore said.
"He's making a statement and he deserves Origin selection next week.
"In [Jersey] Flegg he was always a good player but could be timid at times. Since he's come into first grade, his confidence has grown and he's believing in his ability.
"He's always had a big body and he's playing some really good football at the moment.''
Panthers teammate James Tamou has achieved everything in rugby league but found himself studying video of his 24-year-old teammate who is all but certain to get his first Blues jersey next Monday.
"Reg has been unreal, everything he does, his runs, his hits, he's got a mind for footy, has a massive engine, and he's someone you love watching,'' Tamou told Fairfax Media.
"He will thrive in Origin and love being on that stage. He'll eat it up.
"All pre-season, all I did was watch him on the video.
"It sounds funny coming from an older bloke and doing what I've done, but that's the type of player he is. It's a front-rower's mentality, someone might get hyped over a big step, but I get pumped for some of his hits and runs.''
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Campbell-Gillard is set to be picked for NSW, as is David Klemmer, with Aaron Woods, Dragons prop Paul Vaughan and even Trent Merrin all vying for the other props spots.
Having already toured with the Kangaroos, Campbell-Gillard did not train until Thursday after he took advantage of the nine-day turnaround and had some wisdom teeth removed.
Latimore has played at five different NRL clubs and remains unsigned beyond this year.
He is keen to play on and if he does it will only be at the Dragons, a successful company who has a playing group he enjoys being around.
An educated man, Latimore has plans to move into mortgage broking once he hangs up the boots, and quipped give the recent decline in the Sydney housing market, he might need to punch out a few more years yet as a footballer.
A sellout crowd of around 21,500 is expected at the foot of the mountains for the top-of-the-table clash.
