Blues rubbish Elias's flood comments

Updated May 20, 2011 13:18:00

The New South Wales State of Origin side has moved to distance itself from controversial comments made by former Blues player Benny Elias about the Queensland floods.

Elias made the remarks at a function organised by the Blues Origin Legends on Thursday night.

"They are going to make these floods back in Queensland ... look like an absolute mimic when it comes to us coming up there because we're going to create a massive storm," he told Fox Sports.

Elias apologised for the comment on Friday, telling News Limited: "I understand some comments I made on Thursday night about Queensland at a NSW State of Origin dinner were misunderstood.

"I've always felt the barbs and banter between the two states adds to the theatre of State of Origin.

"But if a comment I made about the Queensland floods was misinterpreted, then I genuinely apologise."

Current Blues hooker Michael Ennis asked to speak to the media about the issue because of his personal experience visiting the flood-affected areas with his NRL club Canterbury.

"The NSW Rugby League, also my club at the Bulldogs and a lot of these players here did a hell of a lot of work up in Queensland with the floods," Ennis said.

"I'm extremely disappointed ... it was uncalled for."

Ennis denied the comments would make the Blues' task more difficult at Lang Park on Wednesday night against a Maroons outfit sure to be fired up by them.

The Blues trained at Coogee Oval on Friday morning with interchange forward Dean Young running with the side for the first time as he nurses his troublesome knee through the lead-up to Origin I.

-AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, state-of-origin, nsw, sydney-2000, qld, brisbane-4000

First posted May 20, 2011 12:56:00

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