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.
Chris
Guest
Stop going on about kelly he will never get a start. My side would be 1. Hayne - good under high ball and has a big kick 2. Brett Morris - done nothing wrong all series plus stopped Tate form scoring 3. Jennings or Frego 4. Josh Morris - has slow down GI 5. Dugan - can rotate in for Hayne and was very good in game 2 6. Maloney - has never look out of sorts once always trying but needs to run the ball more like JT 7. Adam Reynolds - best half back in the game. Yes plays behind a great forward pack but NSW forwards are just as good 8. Tamou - needs his off loads and big runs 9. Farah - just needs to stop trying to b Smith 10. Fifita - was great in both games 11. Bird - always great in origin 12. Lewis - played great in game 1 13. Gallen - always gives 1000% for the sky blue Bench 14. Hoffman - would be a great impact player 15. Josh Reynolds - only played 14 mins in game 2 and should have come on for Pearce 16. Tolman - huge go forward, never stops would be great 17. Fensom - is a tackling machine great defence
NWR
Guest
I saw the Titans loss to Newcastle, do you still think Albert Kelly is the answer. He has talent but lets see how he goes over a full season. Is Kelly better than Adam Reynolds who isn't ready (Coach Daley) after a season and half of top line performances. Did you see Reynolds against the Canberra as a comparison to Kelly. Neither of us are going get the changes because Pearce is protected; the same patience hasn't been given to Wallace; Mullens ; Carney; Campese who have all been discarded from the halves while Pearce blunders on. To be fair how many of the SOO2 forwards played to their potential other than Fifta. All played below their ability, but I guess it must be very hard when the halves kick straight to the opp and they come charging back at you again.
Sujskiez
Guest
My team would be this Stewart (if fit or dugan) B.Morris Jennings Hayne Uate or Tafua Malony Pearce Gallen(if fit if not wouldn't mind tim mannah in there or willie mason) Farrah Tamou Bird Lewis Merrin Fifita Grant Watmough J.Reynolds
YekiKuni
Guest
Saint, Dugan does not know how to pass, kick and step..... He carries the ball blindly with his trademark right foot step. I do not think Hayne lacks the pass, kick, step, defend, etc... qualities. Jarryde is a complete FB.
YekiKuni
Guest
Leave Reynolds and Hoffman out...Replace them with Wade Graham and Sims respectively. Fergy @ wing looked ok. No need for Dugan.. Hayne is a master fullback....
NWR
Guest
While everyone is analysing SOO has Bob Fulton been looked at? He's been part of the series losses, coach,players have gone not Fulton. I guess it must be the coaches can't coach,players can't play but Fulton picked the right team along the way and isn't to blame for anything. Surely we need a revamp, we choose a player who doesn't play SOO1, then plays 15 in SOO2 with little impact.. Not sure what reason but we wasted the interchange, would Sutton have got more game time? Would Carney have got more time? You'll notice that Qld pick the right bench after in SOO 1. They chose to leave out Hannat and drop Harrison & Shillington, lets see what happens with our team this time,if nothing then ,we be looking at 8 series wins!
Devout Saint
Guest
I actually have Albert Kelly pencilled in for next year's origin. but I would not want to bring him in for the last game in his first season of first grade footy. So I would stick with Pearce for the last game. Next year I would be looking at JOSH Reynolds and Albert Kelly as my NSW halves.
Devout Saint
Guest
That would be the first time I have been called BIASED SAINT. I don't see it as biased. I have been calling for Soward to be gone from Saints since 2009. So much so that I have been accused on many occasions of not being a Saints fan by fellow Saints fans. As for Creagh., He should definitely not have played origin last year. I think he has stagnated or even gone backwards over the last 2 years. I would have even considered letting him go this year too. As for Scott, He is a solid forward, he is tough, he was our enforce and a great defender, but I was not overly disappointed when he left. As for Merrin, he is a top forward who is not out of place at origin. As for Dugan. I rated him before he got to Saints. But I was not overly keen on us signing him as he was injured too much and I would have wanted a fullback in the Slater, Stewart or Will Hoppa mold. But since Dugan has come to Saints and played some blinders, my opinion of him has increased and I would definitely take Dugan over Hayne at fullback for Saints of NSW.
Go the blues
Guest
Well we know Mortimer won't get a go so who else do you suggest because Pearce certainly isnt getting the job done, he is overated but still Daley keeps picking him.
blue legend
Guest
devout saint you should change your name to BIASED SAINT because dugan isnt half the player Hayne is at any level????? typical dragons fan,half the problem of the NSW sides over the past is the inclusion of saints in the team, ie soward,run away creagh,scott merrin when he was fat etc etc etc hayne fullback dugan wing maybe sims on the bench for renolds but definaley say good bye merritt and renolds...wolf man worst player let alone worst winger in origin.....leave bias bring back the shield!!!!! long live the blues
Devout Saint
Guest
Yeah, Adam Reynolds does have the best kicking game in the comp, but as myself and Andrew Johns have said is that he offers very little beside his great kicking game. I would not pick someone just for their kicking game. But it looks like a lot would. Just remember that Adam Reynolds has the luxury of playing behind the best pack in the comp and the team leading the comp. Sandow looked a lot better at Souths the last year he was there than he has looked at Parra. I am wondering if Dan Mortimer could be one of our best options for halfback, but he can't even get a starting spot at Easts, but he is too good not to be starting in an NRL team.
sticky
Guest
I totally agree with Hayne at fullback, this will definitely solve the problem. Hayne is a brilliant defender, creates gaps and makes line breaks. He also has good kicking and passing skills. I want Hayne at fullback.
Lenny
Guest
Pearce MUST GO. Bring in Reynolds.Bring back Ferguson if available. Hayne over Dugan. You need defensive backs to combat Inglis. So select players like Jennings, the Morris twins or whomever can tackle and perform under the high ball. But imho, Pearce is, and always has been, the very weak link. It won't happen of course because Wayne, Benny Elias and the other NRL mafiosa won't allow it to happen.Sad. With the current likely NSW team, Qld to win by at least 6 points in Game 3.
evan
Guest
can someone explain to me what hoffman and merrin have contributed in either game??? boyd cordner is a origin player now why are we waiting
Go the blues
Guest
I agree Pearce has had how many chances in origin, he fails to get the ball in goal and force dropouts, give young Adam Reynolds ago, he is running second in the comp for forcing goal line dropouts behind Thurston, Daley contradicts himself, he said Adam Reynolds has the best kicking game in the comp but fails to pick him, come on Daley get over your bromance with Pearce and give someone else ago, he missed his chance numerous times
Devout Saint
Guest
You say that Mortimer is better than Pearce. I too was considering the same thing last week. I really think that Mortimer is too good to be stuck on the bench for Easts.
Devout Saint
Guest
David Williams would have been a much better option than Merrit and I am not just saying that after the game, I was saying it before game 1. I disagree about you saying that Hayne is our only game breaker. Dugan is certainly a game breaker. So is Ferguson and Josh Morris, while Brett Morris is one of the best wingers I have seen.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The only complaint I would have if they picked Reynolds and Sutton for game 3 is that it would stuff my supercoach team. Pearce made half breaks with good footwork 2 or 3 times last night but the bloke couldn't create an extra man or put someone through a gap to save himself...every time he looked like he would, he'd throw a dummy, step back inside and get tackled. They say great players look like they have extra time...Pearce looks like he has less...lots less. Daniel Mortimer is a better player than Pearce.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Merritt will join the one-origin-only club. Hayne must be fullback. Having 80 minute style workhorse backrowers on the bench is a complete waste. Yu have 5 starting forwards (excluding hooker) and 3 bench forwards - that means you have an average of 50 mins per player. Do you want Lewis, Gallen, Bird, Watmough, Hoffman playing less than 50 ? You need a reserve back / dummy half off the bench. I question if you need Merrin. He's a great 80 minute club 13 / prop. Do you get the best out of him over 20 mins ? Not for mine - not enough impact. NSW must have impact players off the bench who will only play 20 mins but make a difference. Tariq Sims, Tony Williams, Fifita, Idris, whoever - but they must make a difference when they come on...not deliver more of the same.
Devout Saint
Guest
Yeah, I obviously watched the game and game 1 and every other origin game since 1982. Yes I know that Lewis is a great player. I would start with a back row of Sims, Bird and Watmough. These are 3 of the hardest and toughest back rowers in the game. Then bring on Lewis after 20 minutes and after the softening up period. I would much prefer a centre pairing Ferguson and Josh Morris and I would much prefer them at Saints over Jennings.