The Origin big hits started flying well before Queensland and NSW kicked off.

The action started hours earlier in a room high above Etihad Stadium where former NSW captain and now selector Laurie Daley opened fire on Queensland, telling a Melbourne Storm lunch he thought Queensland prop Petero Civoniceva had “had his time”.

Amid the gasps that followed, Daley – who played 23 Origins – squeezed off another round, this one aimed at Darren Lockyer, questioning the Queensland skipper’s ability to defend under pressure.

Daley’s words would no doubt have found their way back to the Maroons camp quicker than any NSW speedsters could have dashed the 100 metres from tryline to tryline.

Staring down the barrel of an embarrassing and unprecedented fourth straight series loss, desperate Blues selectors dumped their conservative mind set to take a punt on a bunch of exciting rookies.

The plan was to use their speed in an up-tempo game designed to run Queensland’s pensioner props Civoniceva (32 year old) and Steve Price (35) ragged and open up the cracks around the edges.

But the blueprint didn’t work.

NSW started the way Daley had hoped and led 2-0 after an early penalty goal.

But it all went pear shaped after winger Jarryd Hayne’s left boot was ruled to have clipped the chalk as he danced along the touch line in the eight minute following a royal commission by video referees Bill Harrigan and Tim Mander.

Civoniceva and Price then did what they always do in Origin, bashing the ball down field without any concern for their safety like men half their age.

Take note Daley, Petero’s days are clearly not over yet.

The Blues had it all to do down 18-6 at halftime.

When Queensland centre Greg Inglis stood up rookie James McManus for a 75-metre try just after halftime there was no way back for the baby Blues.

They closed to within six points with 10 minutes to play but in the end they paid the price for taking too many rookies into a game on neutral turf.

If NSW can’t come back and win the series perhaps Daley should consider taking a leaf out New Zealand’s book and try to entice Wayne Bennett to coach them next year.

© AAP 2012

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