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When the Queensland team runs onto ANZ Stadium for State of Origin Two and looks at the New South Wales side, they’ll hardly be shaking in their boots. The Blues are bereft of big boppers, with Parramatta’s Tim Mannah the only recognised prop.
Captain courageous Paul Gallen has been shifted into the front-row, with Beau Scott and Ben Creagh in the back-row and Greg Bird at lock.
While Gallen will do the job, it’s not ideal.
I’m sure Stuart would rather have another big man available while also relying on Gallen to turn in his usual shift.
It begs the question: where have all the big men gone?
In the past, the Blues have been blessed with hard heads like Paul Harragon, Mark Carroll, Steve Roach, David Gillespie and Glenn Lazarus.
The current crop are either not available for duty or just not good enough.
Jason King was dropped, Kade Snowden isn’t fit, Mick Weyman is short of match fitness, Luke Douglas and Aiden Tolman are injured while Tom Learoyd-Lahrs has been too inconsistent this season.
Even Mannah’s ribs were left a little sore and sorry following Parramatta’s dramatic draw with St George Illawarra on Friday night.
State of Origin has always been defined by one thing: toughness.
The Maroons big men have passed this down from generation to generation, and now Matt Scott is following in the foot-steps of Shane Webcke and Steve Price before him.
Stuart seems to have gone into the series with at least two separate game plans so far.
Game one was all about toughness. He picked a big pack and a sizable bench. It was all aimed at avoiding a slaughter at Suncorp.
To a large extent it worked. The Blues defended their line like a band of brothers and somehow found themselves in front with just over 10 minutes to go. One lapse in concentration saw them narrowly lose.
This time the Blues side is full of players with ball skills who are more mobile.
Jarryd Hayne, Will Hopoate, Luke Lewis, Kurt Gidley and Anthony Watmough come into the side.
Lewis and Watmough are still tough in every sense of the word, but they’re not limited to just putting their heads down and running.
It remains to be seen whether this is a masterstroke or just another chapter in the book titled “Things that didn’t work against Queensland.”
We’ll find out on Wednesday week.
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