Ask Mal Meninga and Ricky Stuart what wins State of Origin and they’ll both say experience, stability, and passion. But the two long-term Raiders team-mates, now rival Origin coaches, aren’t on the same page.
When Stuart coached NSW to a 2-1 Origin victory at his only attempt in 2005, only Mark Gasnier remains.
But there are seven Queenslanders backing up from 2005 – Billy Slater, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston, Petero Civoniceva, Cameron Smith, Ashley Harrison, and Corey Parker.
Michael Hagan was the coach that year.
Meninga began his record five successive series streak in 2006, armed with five top-line Kangaroos to this day.
With such an outstanding platform, the experience count for tomorrow night is heavily in favour of Meninga and his mighty Maroons.
So too stability.
* In 2006, NSW selectors looked to 23 players in the three-match series – Queensland 24 – Queensland won 2-1.
* In 2007, NSW used 24 players, Queensland 20 – Queensland won 2-1.
* In 2008, NSW picked 23, Queensland 20 – Queensland won 2-1
* In 2009, NSW selected 30, Queensland 20 – Queensland won 2-1
* And last year, NSW picked 32, Queensland 20 – Queensland won 3-0.
Overall in the five series on the Meninga watch, NSW selected 132 players, Queensland 104. And Queensland won 11 games to four.
Domination due to experience and stability.
But the NSW selectors had a lot to do with destabilising their side, embarking on a “revolving door” policy, resulting in 62 players wearing blue in the last two series compared to Queensland’s 40.
Little wonder NSW won just one game to five.
And to make NSW supporters scratch their heads even more in disbelief, Kurt Gidley was appointed captain off the bench last season. Unheard of, unfathomable, absurd.
Never one to miss an opportunity, Mal Meninga pounced on the NSW instability.
Tomorrow night will be the 91st Origin clash, with Queensland leading 47-41 and two drawn. Queensland’s won 15 series to 12, with two drawn.
But Origin wasn’t always so Maroon dominated.
After 2006, it was 38-all in matches won, with two drawn.
After 2007, the series stood at 12-all, with two drawn.
Not a struck match between the two sides. But Meninga started the recent domination by being an exclusive Origin coach, with no direct club ties. The NSW selectors did the rest.
That leaves passion.
Queenslanders have always had passion to a fanatical level with a siege “them and us” mentality – a powerful weapon.
NSW has shown passion in patches over the years, but never endemic. Constant losing has a habit of killing passion.
While Ricky Stuart has never lacked it as player and coach, can he instill that long-overdue feeling into his troops for tomorrow night?
All of which proves that NSW has a mountain to climb against a Queensland outfit that has a clear advantage in the experience, stability, and passion stakes.
And the support of a chockers 52,000 and some change Suncorp (Lang Park) crowd that’s as fanatical as their team, hosting 29 Queensland Origin victories to 15 by the Blues.
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Here's everything you need to know about Women's State of Origin 2022 - from the kick-off time to how to watch and where it will be won.
