So threatening is Jeremiah Nanai's aerial ability that Kurt Capewell joked he's considering some new footwear in an attempt to thwart him.
The Brisbane backrower says they would like to limit his North Queensland opposite's ability to soar and score, like he did twice as part of a hat-trick against the Broncos last year.
"I'm thinking about playing in basketball shoes," Capewell said ahead of Friday's meeting at Suncorp Stadium.
"I've had plenty of practice this week; he's terrific in the air with the catch but hopefully we play the game down their end and that'll take that away from them."
North Queensland's 38-12 victory last March was their biggest in 16 years against Brisbane, kickstarting a season that led Todd Payten's men to a home preliminary final.
"They were (good); they came out firing last year and we haven't forgotten that," Capewell said.
Nanai scored from two Tom Dearden bombs and then ran onto another grubber kick to announce himself after just seven NRL games.
And the 20-year-old kicked on, Queensland coach Billy Slater selecting him for all three State of Origin games in the Maroons' series win.
"We've seen what he can do for the Cowboys and in Origin," Capewell said.
"He's got great feet, is pretty quick and most of the time he's contesting their kicks and they score a lot of tries off kicks."
Both teams enjoyed one-point victories in the opening round, Brisbane's first in Penrith since 2009 in a bright start after their horror fadeout cost them a 2022 finals appearance.
