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There can be no excuses for the Maroons this time.
While Daly Cherry-Evans is the heir apparent to Johnathan Thurston’s crown as the game’s best player, he does not possess the experience to organise the Maroons attack like Cooper Cronk, and his tactical kicking is also not as strong.
Big games are generally won by communication from the key position players as was evident in the series deciding Game 2, when Robbie Farah double pumped to put halfback Trent Hodkinson through a gap to score the decisive try.
It is not a negative reflection on Cherry-Evans that the Maroons lost Game 1 when Cronk was forced off the field after only nine minutes with a broken wrist.
He had only previously trained as the dummy half during the week and did not know what to expect from the players around him, especially his right centre Justin Hodges and winger Brent Tate.
There was also a dropped pass which went to Matt Gillett when he had the line open, which Cronk would expect to ice.
NSW backed up the Game 1 victory with an historic win in Game 2 to claim the series. Both sides were unable to play their natural game. The referees ensured that a small ten metres and holding down in the ruck was the order.
It was always going to be a coin toss.
The Maroons lost Matt Scott and Brent Tate during the game and had a controversial try by Sam Thaiday disallowed. Cherry-Evans was injured before the game and could not train but he still played. He missed the vital tackle on Hodkinson that gave the series to the Blues.
The NSW Blues were worthy winners, but it is very easy to mount several arguments why Queensland was unlucky. A third win to the Blues will knock any hard luck stories on the head.
The Maroons most senior players were shocked at the gulf between Cronk and Cherry-Evans when it came to running the team.
Make no mistake the guy who ‘blows the whistle’ and screams out the orders on the field is Cooper Cronk. He is the best ‘general’ in the world. He sets such a high standard and players rely so much on him that when he is not there the structures fall away.
You only have to observe how the Melbourne Storm has been going without him.
Given that Game 3 is a dead rubber, it would have been an ideal time for a fresh and uninjured Cherry-Evans to play a full 80 minutes in preparation for when he finally succeeds Cronk.
However, the Maroons are smarting over losing their crown and are desperate to get back into the win column.
Coach Mal Meninga did not hesitate when Cronk assured him that he will be 100 per cent fit to play, three weeks before the doctors advised date.
Who is going to argue with a general?
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