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Current Blues can turn Origin form: Graham

The Blues bottled it in Game 2 of State of Origin. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
13th July, 2017
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NSW second-rower Wade Graham has joined coach Laurie Daley in backing the current Blues team to flip the State of Origin script next year.

As the post-mortem continues in the Blues’ latest series defeat to Queensland on Wednesday, Graham is adamant their game three side is still the team to end the drought.

The Origin career of Mitchell Pearce is again under intense scrutiny after suffering his seventh straight attempt to the Maroons, while their forward pack has also been criticised.

Graham suggested fringe players Jack de Belin, Jordan McLean and Dale Finucane, all of whom were brought into camp for the game three, could step up next year.

Asked if they were still the team to turn the Origin tide around, Graham said: “Definitely.

“Obviously the group through all three games, and the guys in camp like Jack De Belin, Jordan McLean, and young (Tom) Trbojevic and Dale Finucane coming in.

“There’s a core group there of 20 to 21 players good enough to get the job done.”

Rookie Jake Trbojevic was arguably the Blues’ best forward of the campaign to be one of the few players to have enhanced his credentials in the representative arena.

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He was one of a number of players angered by what was their worst display of the series.

“Pretty disappointed, we came here with a lot of expectation, especially being a decider. To toss up a performance like that, it’s frustrating,” he said.

The majority of the playing squad also admitted the series shouldn’t have reached a decider.

“It sounds a bit cliched but you’ve got to play for the full 80 minutes. That second game, we were probably the better team for most of that game,” he said.

“To come away with a loss was pretty frustrating, they were on top from the first minute. It’s such a quality team.”

Five-eighth James Maloney was gutted with the defeat and scathing of the NSW effort.

“It’s hard to cop. To get to the biggest stage, the decider, and turn out your worst performance like that. It is horrible,” he said.

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“It’s not good enough to be honest. You represent a lot of people when you pull on that blue jersey. I think NSW deserve better, Laurie and the staff deserve better.”

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