Funkerstation » vely.KENT, Ohio -- Mark Alstork

Kurt Gidley says the State of Origin games are the toughest that any player can be involved in.Gidley, who has quickly settled in at Warrington Wolves, is well placed to discuss the State of Origin series, having made 12 appearances for New South Wales, including captaining the region. With the opening match of the 2016 series on the horizon, the 33-year-old was open about just how gruelling taking part in one of Australias most intense sporting rivalries is. Id describe it as the pinnacle in Rugby League, he told Sky Sports. Theyre the toughest games that any player can be involved in, as far as physical and mental toughness goes. Gidley fending off close Queensland attention in State of Origin action Ive represented my country and theyre really tough and physical games as well, but I think that the Origin games that Ive played in have been the most physical and toughest that Ive ever played in.Theres so much at stake, its the highest-rated programme on Australian television every year and people who dont watch rugby league throughout the year watch State of Origin because it is such a big occasion. Aidan Guerra celebrates scoring Queenslands eighth try in State of Origin III last year Sydneys ANZ Stadium will host the opening Test and Gidleys New South Wales will know the importance of starting positively.The 2015 series ended in despair for the Blues as Queensland inflicted a brutal 52-6 hammering of their rivals. However, Gidley doesnt believe that will impact on Wednesdays opener.As a player, theres nothing that you can do the change the past, he said. For me, Im always looking towards my next game, whether Ive lost, drawn or won my previous game.So its almost 12 months between the last game of Origin 2015 and this one, its irrelevant what happened last year now. Gidleys Knights career in the NRL spanned over 15 years With the State of Origin stage being so large and the scrutiny that comes with that, the 33-year-old commented how it takes some time to learn how to handle the external pressures. Queenslands media and New South Wales media are both driving different agendas and trying to find different stories on opposing teams, players and coaches so its a crazy time, explained Gidley.As a young guy, it takes a bit of time to learn just to focus on training and your job in the game, because you dont want to play the game in your head before you do play it. So, that comes with a bit of experience.Once game day arrives and the build-up has come to an end, Gidley knows that every member taking to the field during the 2016 series, and in the years to come, will experience something extremely special and something that theyll never forget.The atmosphere is the biggest thing that most players remember, he said. Whether its in Queensland with 90 per cent of the crowd booing you, or whether youre in New South Wales and there are close to 90,000 people supporting you. State of Origin is one of Australias most intense sporting rivalries The atmospheres are amazing and when you run out for the game, its a feeling that you cant get anywhere else in your life.You train pretty intensely for 10 days in the lead up to it, and every day that you get closer to the game you get more excited. By the time that you run out of the tunnel and you hear the crowd, it is a pretty unrealistic feeling to describe unless youve experienced it.For the Australian, his focus is firmly on Warringtons trip to St Helens on Friday night, as the Wolves have the opportunity to build upon their nine-try victory over Leeds.But, like most, hell have one eye on the 2016 State of Origin opener to see if New South Wales can turn around a difficult 2015 finale and start the 2016 series on a winning note.St Helens v Warrington is live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 7.30pm on Friday night.Also See:State Of Origin 2016 PreviewSaints v Wolves: Key battlesRugby League Set of SixTop Super League triesTampa Bay Lightning Jerseys . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Steven Stamkos Jersey . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. http://www.lightninghockeystore.us/Ryan-Callahan-Jersey/ . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. Andrei Vasilevskiy Jersey . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. Brayden Point Jersey . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively.KENT, Ohio -- Mark Alstork scored 25 points, Steven Davis had 14, including the clinching free throws with four seconds left and Wright State held off Kent State 68-63 on Sunday.The Raiders, up 36-32 at the half, had a 17 point lead with 11:19 to play cut to two with 2:41 to play on a 3-point play by Jaylin Walker.The Golden Flashes had two possessions to tie, missing four times on the second possession that included a jump ball, before Grant Benzinger made a free throw with 15 seconds left after a defensive rebound. That ended a drought of 6:35 for the Raiders, who led 65-61 on Justin Mitchells layup at the 6:50 mark.ddddddddddddKent State, which fell behind by missing its first eight shots of the second half, missed another 3 with Davis grabbing the rebound and securing the win at the line.Wright State (8-4) went 12 of 25 from 3-point range but shot 45 percent (25 of 56) overall and just 6 of 8 from the line.Kent State (7-4) shot 34.4 percent (22 of 64), including 6 of 26 from distance, and made 13 of 19 from the line. ' ' '