Melbourne Storm back rower Ryan Hoffman says he will have no qualms about running at his good mate, Storm and Queensland half Cooper Cronk, in Origin III because he knows Cronk wouldn't expect anything less.
Hoffman said Cronk – making his comeback from a broken arm suffered in Origin I – is "100 per cent" certain to play, and both men would have too much respect for their jerseys not to give it their all, even if that meant giving his mate a hard time.
"Anyone who knows Cooper knows how hard he works, whether it's in training or rehab he's been doing everything he can... I saw last week he was doing some passing and did some contact at the end of last week and he's still got a week to go before the game so I'm sure he'll be fine," Hoffman said.
He said Cronk wouldn't put himself out there if he wasn't fine, and wouldn't disrespect the Queensland jersey by playing if he wasn't able to be at his best.
Asked whether he would be a part of a Blues forward battery out to target Cronk's injured arm, Hoffman said "it's the world's worst kept secret that back-rowers run at halfbacks on the edge. That's my role and I'll do my role as best I can for the team".
He said Cronk wouldn't expect anything less.
"I'm out there to do a job, we're out there playing a game. If you're not willing to go out there and put your body on the line, whether you're running the ball or defending you shouldn't be out there on the paddock and I know Cooper would think exactly the same."
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