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Queensland were too strong on the night and they take it to a decider in Sydney. Many New South Welshmen have been dreaming of seeing the shield lifted by a blue shirt and in Sydney it would be all the more sweet.
But, some changes need to be made in order for that to become a reality.
Laurie Daley has selected a decent squad this series so far but the one selection that has mystified me is that of Josh Reynolds.
Don’t get me wrong, Reynolds is a talented player but he’s no use as an interchange player.
Drop him and replace him with another forward. Most likely it should be James Tamou to the starting side with Aaron Woods replacing Reynolds on the bench.
On the subject of young Aaron Woods, he was given a monumental task, too much for a debutant.
In his first Origin match he was asked to lead the Blues pack and attempt to dominate his opposite in Matt Scott. It’s better to have him come off the bench and use his speed around the ruck against the tiring defence.
Given Sydney’s recent weather and the likeliness of a wet decider, NSW could do a lot worse than enter the match with a forward-filled bench.
My next change is at fullback. I know, I can hear you St George fans screaming at your screens. However, Josh Dugan was only there due to an injury suffered by Jarryd Hayne.
While Dugan did occasionally look threatening, he does not strike the same fear into the Queenslanders as Hayne does.
Not only that, but Dugan’s smaller frame prevented him from being able to hold up Sam Thaiday for Queensland’s first try.
Hayne showed in Game 1 how good his defence is and how strong he is. Not many players can take a hit from Greg Inglis and still keep moving forward.
There is no use in a decider to isolating probably your best attacking weapon, Hayne, on the wing.
It would be akin to dropping Peter Siddle against South Africa last summer in the playoff for the world number one ranking.
Not only that, Dugan’s attitude before the match is not one of a team player. Who, on the eve of an Origin camp, decides it’s a good idea to hit the town with a good drinking buddy until the wee hours of the morning?
It was a selfish decision and not a well thought out one, as Blake Ferguson realised the next morning.
Now, onto Nathan Merritt.
The little Bunny was caught out but, in a game like that, who wouldn’t be?
Johnathan Thurston was at his clinical best. Unless there is a more credentialled player to take his place then stick with Merritt.
If I was Daley I’d be tempted to swap him with Brett Morris, on the opposite wing. Morris is heavily experienced at Origin level and is a top notch defender.
Having him defend next to his brother may give Queensland headaches and Thurston double vision.
Cooper Cronk, while a good player, is not Thurston. And there is no Greg Inglis on that side to wreak havoc. Although Merritt did effect a good one-on-one tackle against his South Sydney teammate.
I wouldn’t be making any more changes than above. They are necessary if NSW are to win this year.
On a damp ANZ Stadium a big, mobile pack could easily out-muscle the smaller Queensland pack.
Hayne is one of the most dangerous players on the field when given any room. At fullback he has the ability to arrive anywhere he chooses and destroy the Queensland line.
Stick with Merritt, unless someone really steps up deserves a second chance, but maybe on the opposite side of the field to prevent him being tortured by Thurston.
This is a game that New South Wales can definitely win but one that will require steely resolve and unflappable spirit.
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