Trent Loiero counts Queensland hardman Michael Crocker among his muses.
But the Melbourne forward feels he’s struck the balance between fire and finesse ahead of his own State of Origin debut.
Loiero, 24, will return home to the Sunshine Coast this week for the Maroons’ camp – moved from their traditional Sanctuary Cove base – ahead of next Wednesday’s opener in Brisbane.
The fiery Storm forward admitted he went too far at this month’s Magic Round when he conceded a pair of costly penalties in a golden-point loss to Canberra.
Invited into the Maroons’ camp last year, Loiero has worked on his ball-playing and opposition scouting to become a more complete player.
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But the hot streak built during a childhood “playing rain, hail and shine, diving on the concrete, diving on the road” remains.
“It’s always been there. It might just have come out a bit more in the past few weeks,” the Kawana Dolphins and Mountain Creek State High product said.
“I’ve learnt my lesson. Aggression’s good, as long as it’s controlled aggression.”
Loiero has been named on Billy Slater’s bench and says he hasn’t given any thought to the Blues’ pack and if he’ll be targeted as a rookie.
Not that he’d mind it, given Loiero cited two of the Maroons’ great competitors when asked who he had modelled his game on.
“If you’re talking about people who like to bring the heat, Mick Crocker was one,” he said of the tough-as-nails forward.
“Also Matt Gillett. I loved watching Matt Gillett.”
Reuben Cotter has seen enough of Loiero to know he’ll fit right into a pack keen to turn the tables on the Blues.
“Mick Crocker, the sort of player he was in this jersey, all us middle forwards aspire to play similarly,” he said.
“He’s (Loiero) a handy player; been watching him for a couple of years now.
“And he’s played in some big games now too and it’s good to have him in camp.”
Game I of the State of Origin Series will be contested at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, May 28, kick-off at 8.05pm, televised live on Channel 9 and streamed live on 9Now.
