While it is evident that NSW are facing enormous pressure heading into Wednesday night’s Origin encounter, their opposition also find themselves in a similar position. Only this time, they are the ones staring glory in the face.
The Maroons know exactly what their counterparts are feeling heading into the second Origin game in Sydney.
Cast your minds back to the 2006 series, it was the Blues who were presented with a brilliant chance to become the first Origin team in history to win four consecutive series.
Having dominated the 2003/04/05 editions, NSW had overtaken the Maroons in both passion and skill, with names such as Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler, Matthew Gidley, Danny Buderus, Anthony Minichiello and Nathan Hindmarsh at the forefront of the team’s successes.
But in the second half of the 2006 Origin decider at the Telstra Dome, all that dominance south of the border was about to evaporate.
After Blues fullback Brett Hodgson threw an ill advised dummy half pass that found Queensland captain Darren Lockyer, the Maroons dug themselves out of a situation that would have rivalled England’s surrender of the Ashes to Australia all those years ago.
Although English Cricket presumably died that day, the Maroons, through the instinctive genius of Lockyer, were able to clinch the 2006 Origin series and stop NSW’s record breaking feat.
Fast forward three years and it is now the Maroons that will attempt to complete what the Blues failed to achieve in that decisive game in 2006.
In possession of arguably the greatest backline in Origin history, Queensland find themselves in a terrific position to snare four consecutive series wins against a NSW side that now finds itself on the brink of collapse.
After Blues utility Craig Wing was yesterday ruled out of the Second Origin game because of a hamstring problem, Bulldogs winger Josh Morris was chosen as his replacement.
While no one doubts the form that Morris is currently in, just how much will one see of a specialist winger that offers no utility value?
In order for the Blues to unleash Morris’ potential, one thinks they would have to switch Gidley to hooker when Farah comes off, which would allow Hayne to shift to fullback and allow Morris to assume his normal role on the flanks.
This is just one of many pieces to a Blues puzzle that coach Craig Bellamy must place in the right spots to avoid this Queensland side from forming a piece of history that will haunt NSW forever in Origin folklore.
Blues great Andrew Johns said Mitchell was a "must pick" for State of Origin II at the MCG against Queensland to replace suspended centre…
After their 38-10 defeat in Origin I, Andrew Johns says NSW officials have to put aside grievances with the Souths fullback, who is the…
The Maroons coach says seeing incidents like that are going to prevent parents from wanting their kids to play rugby league.
Should Latrell Mitchell be back in the frame for Origin 2 after his dominant display for the Rabbitohs?
It’s quite surprising for anyone who’s watched the Bulldogs play this year that another player hasn’t been mentioned for the Blues, Jacob Kiraz, based on his stats.
Paul Gallen tried to argue that there should be some form of mitigation as the Maroons fullback lowered his height quickly.
