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Last night in Sydney, the Queensland Maroons defeated the New South Wales Blues 12-10 in the third and deciding game of the 2013 State of Origin series.
In front of a raucous ANZ Stadium crowd of 83,813, the Maroons continued their dominance over the Blues by winning their eighth straight series, extending the long suffering pain for NSW and their fans for at least 12 more months.
It was a thrilling game and a brilliant series, but in the end, it was an all too familiar result.
Here are my four observations from the 2013 State of Origin series, of which I have deliberately left out the idiot who took to the field in the dying moments of the game, threatening to ruin the spectacle for all involved.
NSW have forgotten how to win
The Blues had multiple opportunities to win the game, and the series, but just couldn’t take their chances.
And it wasn’t a case of bad luck or misfortune, it was almost always a case of player error.
Mitchell Pearce’s crucial knock-on when the Blues were attacking the Queensland line and had all the momentum. Aaron Woods lazily falling off the play and James Tamou missing the tackle on Johnathan Thurston’s opening try. Robbie Farah’s rush-of-blood kicks when a simple pass was a much better option. Ryan Hoffman’s horrible read in defence that allowed Justin Hodges to cross the tryline.
The list is long of crucial moments in the game in which NSW panicked, took the wrong option, or made a basic mistake.
NSW had everything served up to them on a platter last night: they were playing at home in front of one of the loudest Blues crowds ever, they kept a potent Maroons squad to a measly 12 points, they were on the right end of the penalty count and referee decisions, and Queensland weren’t at their best.
And yet they still couldn’t land the killer punch and knock the Maroons out, for the simple reason that they’ve forgotten how to win an Origin series.
Losing is a habit. A habit that’s hard to break. The only way the break the vicious cycle is to win, but the only way to win is to break the vicious cycle.
Confused? The Blues will be today as well, as they try to figure out how yet another Origin series slipped through their fingers.
Queensland have forgotten how to lose
In every way NSW is a team mentally scarred from eight years of losing, Queensland is a team emboldened by eight years of winning.
Led and influenced by skipper Cameron Smith’s poise, the Maroons are so calm under pressure and so confident in their abilities, that they truly believe they will win, no matter the situation or circumstances.
Last night wasn’t their best Origin performance, and they were completely shot in the last 10 minutes of the first half, after having to make 30 more tackles than the Blues.
And yet they took an 8-4 lead into the half, when NSW would have conceded a try or two if the situation were reversed.
Then, despite the Blues having all the momentum in the second half, the Maroons protected their slim lead, and then scored via Justin Hodges.
Queensland just know how to win.
The 2013 State of Origin series can best be described as a battle between a team that has forgotten how to win, versus a team that has forgotten how to lose.
I simply couldn’t sum up the series, especially game three, any better than that.
Both teams should hold their heads high
I thought coach Laurie Daley summed it up beautifully after the game when he said that NSW were courageous, but not clinical.
That is a perfect summation of the Blue’s performance: the team showed a lot of heart, but not a lot of execution.
Missing two of their best players, and with the odds – and many other variables – stacked against them, few people believed they could beat a rampant Queensland team. Yet despite lacking precision and execution in attack, they were in the game right up to the final siren. It was a gutsy effort from NSW.
Meanwhile, Queensland were not at their best either, but likewise, showed a lot of courage in simply refusing to give in to fatigue, a lopsided penalty count, or a determined NSW team.
The match was hard and tense, but never once threatened to boil over into violence, and it’s fantastic that the actual game will be talked about today, and not punches.
The game highlighted that Origin can be tough without being dirty.
The Blues were gracious in defeat, and the Maroons were gracious in victory. Exactly how sport should be, and well done to both teams. You may not have been at your executional best, but you did your states and your code proud.
Goodbye Mitchell
It speaks volumes of Mitchell Pearce’s Origin career that last night was probably one of his best games in the sky blue jersey, yet he was still woeful.
You’d have to think that he would be at long odds to get another shot at Origin next year.
All series long, in the most important position on the park, Pearce offered little in attack. He rarely threatened the line, had no dynamism or subtlety with his passing, and his kicking lacked variety, skill and precision.
Despite never really nailing down his spot, Pearce has played halfback for the Blues since Game 3 in 2008. And yet he is still to guide his team to a series win.
While the reason for the Blues’ lack of success cannot be attributed to just one player, Pearce can’t continue to be given a free ride in the number seven jersey when his performances for NSW do not warrant it.
After all, what’s the opposite of ‘If it’s not broken, don’t fix it’?
Astute and long-time readers may feel like the last five paragraphs sound familiar.
The reason is simple: it’s exactly what I wrote after Game 3 last year.
Those that do not learn from their mistakes are doomed to repeat them.
Have NSW finally learnt that Pearce is not an Origin-level halfback?
[roar_cat_gal]