There have been several problems for Laurie Daley heading into this year’s State Of Origin series.
Injuries have clearly been one of the main issues. So too suspension, in the case of blue-to-the-bone enforcer Greg Bird.
Another problem has arisen yet again. One that I feel has plagued a number of NSW players for several years now – mental focus, or lack thereof.
Obviously NSW wants its players to possess strong desire to make the squad. But not at the expense of what should be the ultimate ambition – winning an Origin series.
When the fight becomes primarily over who gets to wear the Blues jerseys, rather than against those blokes up North wearing the Maroon ones, that is exactly what has happened. No wonder Mal Meninga smiles so much.
There is a difference between wanting the individual recognition of being selected to play for NSW ahead of a positional rival, and wanting to be selected for NSW in order to stomp the Maroons and finally win a series for your state.
For some, it appears simply being selected to play for NSW is worthy of celebration itself. I refer of course, to Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson. The two young men who last year displayed a colossal lack of focus when heading into Origin II, a potentially series-winning game for NSW.
We all know the consequences of Blake Ferguson’s disgraceful behaviour that ill-fated night. Although Dugan himself did not get involved in any legal trouble, his decision to hit the town on the night in question with Mr. Ferguson speaks volumes of his misguided values.
What exactly was there for Dugan and Ferguson to celebrate that night? Merely being selected to play for NSW? Sure, that’s an honour and worthy of a mutual pat on the back. Maybe even a pizza and a movie.
But hitting the town to party is something to do after winning a series, not after merely being picked to play. This was the equivalent of a Formula One driver hitting the town to celebrate pole position, the night before the actual race.
Laurie Daley clearly wants none of this kind of all-too-early celebration in this year’s Origin Series, and who can blame him? He has decided to cut out the Blues’ boozy bonding sessions.
I was not surprised last week when Josh Dugan spoke out about wanting to upstage Jarryd Hayne when the Dragons clashed with the Eels on Saturday in order to win the NSW fullback role.
His focus was primarily on the individual recognition of being selected ahead of Hayne, not the bigger picture. He never once mentioned wanting to beat Queensland.
Hayne did his talking on the field at Pirtek Stadium on Saturday, blitzing Dugan’s Dragons while also sending a message that he is ready.
Hayne played like his focus was not only on leading his Eels to victory, but also opposing Billy Slater at Suncorp Stadium.
His focus is clear.
This leads me to another Blues contender who is also lacking focus. Whatever one feels about Mitchell Pearce’s actions recently, his decision to get on the drink and party a mere three weeks before Origin begins was not a constructive one.
It was embarrassing, reckless and unfocused. No wonder the likes of Paul Gallen were apparently furious about it. Greg Bird would probably give his left hand in order to take the field at Suncorp Stadium next week, and here was the much-maligned Pearce partying like there’s no tomorrow.
No wonder Laurie is apparently going with quiet achiever Trent Hodkinson instead. Dropping Pearce (who has had enough chances anyway) is the only way to send the message – we’ve lost eight series in a row, keep your eyes on the prize.
Josh Reynolds is supposedly itching to take the field at Suncorp next week. Not because he wants to be selected ahead of James Maloney, but because he apparently wants to tear into the Maroons like a rabid dog.
This year, perhaps Laurie is selecting players whose primary focus is trying to beat Queensland, not those who foolishly covert selection itself or take their Blue jersey for granted. And in my eyes, this is a step forward.
A team who goes overboard in celebrating making the finals are unlikely to actually lift the trophy on grand final day. And for every NSW player, the thought of beating Queensland should far surpass any sense of individual satisfaction in being selected to begin with.
It will need to be.
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