Spencer Leniu and Haumole Olakau’atu are on the bench but have a crucial role for the Blues in Origin II – providing aggression, direct running and physicality in defence.

The two big men were all smiles at Blues headquarters on Tuesday, ready to hook into training and their impact assignments for game two in Melbourne.

Leniu and Manly’s right edge disrupter were fresh off big team wins and beastly individual performances.

Lenui played a season high 54 minutes in the Roosters 28-18 win over the Eels and started at prop for just the fifth time in his 88 game NRL career.

Yet, the 23-year-old is more than happy to spark fire as an interchange player for the Blues under Michael Maguire – it is his bread and butter.

“I think my role in terms of just coming on and trying to cause as much havoc as I can and making a difference and you know, I’ve been doing that for the last couple of years now so I’m not new to it and I love doing it,” Leniu told The Roar.

“I’m just grateful to be in the camp you know. Whatever role Madge wants me to play, I’ll play it.”

When asked if anyone got under his skin in game one, Leniu grinned.

“I think all of them because they just beat us. All of them, yeah,” Leniu laughed.

Olakau’atu, who romped through St George Illawarra on Sunday in round 15, is looking to provide a similar edge for the team, especially after a series opener in which the Blues failed to find front-foot momentum.

“Unfortunately things didn’t go to plan in game one. Got chucked in the middle and I was pretty sweet with it too. So I just told him (Maguire) I’ll do, you know, do whatever it takes,” Olakau’atu said.

“He said to me, just be me. Bring the aggression and cause havoc on the edge.”

When probed on his pairing with new No.7 Mitchell Moses, the Tongan representative praised the Eels half.

“I guess his defence (is what I’m looking forward too),” Olakau’atu said. “I love how he goes towards contact. I love all that sort of stuff. His defence is a big thing.

“Also his kicking game. He’s got a very, very big boot. That could come in handy when we’re, you know, ever compromising on the game.”

While the towering backrower plans to oppose his clubland hip-tie Daly Cherry-Evans for the second time, Leniu was eager to light it up with Chooks teammate Connor Watson.

“You can play him anywhere and he’ll give you a 10 out of 10 performance,” Leniu said.

“I think that’s just a credit to who he is as a person and as a player. He’s gone through a lot of adversity the last couple of years and to see him now reap the rewards of his hard work, yeah it’s honestly really really special to have him in camp.”

Watson and Leniu have brought back a one-two punch at Bondi, with the ruck speedster coming off the bench to link up with the raw power of the former Panther.

Meanwhile, Olakau’atu was looking forward to the ‘challenge’ – ready to go up against the man behind part of his untouched tries and list of line-breaks, Daly Cherry-Evans.

In a game that laid little platform for Lenui to fire, he rocked the Queensland middle and inspired a 12 man Blues side through just 23 minutes of work.

Brookvale’s giant was largely unproved during his Origin debut. He and Hudson Young both received 23 minutes – but it was Olakau’atu who impressed the better, with 83 run metres from 10 hit-ups.

Moses is not unlike Cherry-Evans. They both have an instinctive knack for darting down the short side and running on the last tackle.

Aided by a strong start and a complete 13, game two could pave the way for both bench brutes to create a frenzy in the middle and any defenders on the edge who aren’t willing to wear a few bruises trying to bring them down.