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The Queensland Maroons defeated the New South Wales Blues 26-16 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane last night, thus clinching the 2016 State of Origin series.
The victory sees Queensland win its second series in a row, and ten of the last 11. It’s a statistic that is staggering to write, and certainly underlines the dominance of the Maroons in recent times.
The Blues had their chances to win the game, but Queensland once again proved too poised, too talented and too good. In a match that threw up plenty of talking points, below are the five I’d like to discuss:
More from Origin Game 2
» Game 2: Queensland seal the series
» State of Origin results
» Re-live the action with our live blog
» Origin 2 in pictures
» Swing the axe, Laurie – NSW cleanout must start immediately
» NSW need to find their Origin identity
» State of Origin Game 2 player ratings: Queensland
» State of Origin Game 2 player ratings: NSW
1. It was a higher quality affair
I was an unapologetic critic of the opening game in the series, which was unmemorable, at best. However, the second game provided more entertainment and was a much higher quality game.
Though it was far from a perfect encounter, there were plenty of good performances, and good football played. Both forward packs provided solid go-forward and laid a good platform for their backs.
The Blues showed a little more variety and flair in attack and put together a couple of nicely executed plays.
Paul Gallen and Greg Bird even passed the ball on a couple of occasions. No, really! And they both resulted in points for the Blues. Who said you can’t teach old dogs new tricks?
Queensland peppered NSW’s left-side defence and found them wanting, resulting in a hat-trick for Dane Gagai, courtesy of some well executed and tactically sound Maroons plays.
And lastly, who could forget Johnathan Thurston’s ball to Darius Boyd, that led to Corey Oates’ try? That was a piece of sheer brilliance by the best rugby league player in the world. Would anyone mind if I called that rugby league porn?
I pleaded for some highlights after Game 1, and JT provided one of the best in Origin history last night.
2. The signature Queensland try
The Maroons’ opening four-pointer was the most Queensland try ever.
Against the run of play, facing some sustained pressure from the Blues, and with NSW clearly on top, the Maroons somehow turned that tide against them into six crucial points.
James Maloney went wide to Michael Jennings, who was wrapped up quickly and forced a pass to Josh Mansour that missed the mark. Gagai pounced, intercepted the ball and raced down the sideline. Despite a spirited chase from Tyson Frizzell, Gagai got the ball across the line, and a shell-shocked NSW were once again left wondering how a period of impressive play ended up with points being scored against them.
For Queensland, it wasn’t just a release from NSW’s pressure. It also provided a monumental shift in momentum.
For all the talk of Queensland’s all-time talent and famous never-say-die attitude, their ability to counter-attack and score points when the game is going against them might just be their most impressive quality during this amazing dynasty.
To be fair, the Blues had a similar try in the second half, but such NSW highlights are the exception, not the rule, as opposed to Queensland.
3. Where to next for NSW?
Queensland appear as though they will just keep rolling on, but what about the vanquished? Where to now for the NSW Blues?
It’s been less than 24 hours since the game, so it’s wise not to overreact, but by the same token, some drastic changes are long overdue. The Blues have won one series in the last 11 years. One series in 11 years. Yikes.
The first change needs to come at the selection panel. Led by Laurie Daley and Bob Fulton, the current panel have made a number of questionable decisions, and need to be held accountable for them.
For ‘Exhibit A’, look no further than Dylan Walker, who barely played in Game 1, and was a penalty or mistake waiting to happen last night. Fears that he wasn’t up to Origin standard were well founded.
In fact, forget any selection gambles, just read that ‘one in 11’ statistic again, and wonder how Fulton – who has been involved during that entire time frame – keeps his job.
A new selection panel is a start, but do the Blues need a new coach?
I actually have a soft spot for Daley, and wouldn’t complain too loudly if he saw out his contract again next year. However, one series victory from four attempts doesn’t make for pretty reading, and perhaps the Blues should be looking for some fresh thinking and tactics for next year’s series.
Harsher critics would ask for any thinking and tactics…
From a player personnel perspective, at the very least it’s time to say farewell to Paul Gallen, Greg Bird, Michael Jennings and Robbie Farah.
The culture of the Blues needs to change, and while the cliché ‘they’ve forgotten how to win’ sounds like sports jargon, in the case of NSW, it’s actually true. Fairly or not, said players have consistently been around during this barren period for the Blues, and therefore need to be moved on in order to usher in a new attitude, with no baggage.
That attitude can start by blooding some new players for Game 3.
There will be varying opinions on the make-up of the team for Sydney – as there always will be – but NSW should be picking for next year, not for sentimental farewells to players that have achieved very little at this level in the grand scheme of things.
The Blues aren’t going to improve by celebrating players that were involved in many more losses than wins.
4. The referees had a funny game
Fear not, Roarers, I’m not going to have a whinge about the refereeing, which didn’t really favour one team or another.
However, the refs did have a bit of a ‘funny’ game.
Cameron Smith was penalised – in what felt like the first time ever in his career – for lying in the ruck. However, similar calls could have been made on both teams immediately before and after that incident.
In the first half, NSW were on the wrong end of four consecutive 50-50 calls that gifted Queensland attacking field position, which eventually resulted in two points courtesy of Thurston’s boot. Yet the Blues consistently hit the Queensland kickers late – and sometimes even high – without receiving a penalty.
Justin O’Neal was penalised for changing direction and impeding NSW chasers in the 56th minute, and while I have no issue with the refs making that call, if the referees were consistent, they could have called it a number of times in the match, most notably, when Corey Oates was taken out with ten minutes to go.
The referees had little to no impact on the result, which is always optimal, but consistency does seem to elude rugby league officials.
5. I was wrong on Darius Boyd
A quick one to round out the five talking points, and it’s an admission that I was wrong.
I used to feel Darius Boyd was extremely overrated.
I believed Boyd built a career on two things: Wayne Bennett looking after him, along with falling over the try-line in Origin after teammates had done all the hard/great work. I honestly didn’t think Boyd was very good.
However, I was wrong. Dead wrong.
Boyd is an exceptional footballer. He has great instincts and a high football IQ. He puts himself in the right pace at the right time in both attack and defence, and it’s not a coincidence. He has a great feel for the game.
He followed up his 162 metres gained in Game 1 with two try assists last night, and he was the lynchpin for many of the Maroons’ attacking raids.
A classy footballer, and ironically – if anything – he’s underrated.