It’s their first taste of defeat in a long time and Queensland don’t like it.
Their remarkable eight-year State of Origin streak over, the Maroons are planning to show NSW they’re far from a spent force in next week’s series finale in Brisbane.
Maroons back-rower Sam Thaiday had never experienced a series loss in his seven prior Origin campaigns and admits coming into camp this week had involved different emotions.
He says the aim now is to prevent a series whitewash and show the Blues the Maroons are going to bounce back and reclaim the Origin shield next year.
“All we have is this third game,” Thaiday said.
“It’s our vision going forward … to win this third game and get a bit of pride back and re-focus for next year when it’s our turn to chase.
“We’ve still got visions and dreams for the future to win more series.
“Yes, the streak is over but this team and what we’ve built is nowhere near dead.”
Thaiday lauded the Blues impressive defensive efforts in games one and two, which have restricted the Maroons to just two tries so far in the series.
He says it’s noticeable how much this year’s NSW team has worked hard for each other compared with previous campaigns.
“Their defence this series has been the best,” Thaiday said.
“I’ve been a part of a lot of physical battles in Origin but when one team can hold you out and hold you out, set after set, that’s more mental than anything.
“You can cop a big tackle, bounce up and play the ball. But when a team stops you scoring time after time, that kind of breaks you.”
As the Blues enjoyed a day off, the Maroons ramped up their match preparations on Friday with an opposed session against a local Queensland Cup team at their Gold Coast camp.
The hit-out gave further evidence Cooper Cronk will be fit to play despite it only being five weeks since he broke his left arm in game one.
It also gave the Maroons a chance to fine-tune their stuttering attack.
Centre Greg Inglis, normally a try-scoring machine at Origin level, is entering next week’s game without a try since game two of last year’s campaign.
The outside-back played down any concern that his mini-drought might be frustrating him, however.
“That’s part of Origin and what Origin is about,” Inglis said.
“We haven’t been to the best of our ability but we’re not taking away any credit from NSW.
“They have played exceptionally well.”
dallas
Guest
my point is that the players should be entitled to choose who they want to play for within reason. I couldnt care less that uate or tamou are eligible for the blues, i think its good for the game and they obviously have there own reasons. Same goes for the qlders, all these players are eligible in one way or another and they want to play for that team so fair enough. same goes for josh hoffman, he was born and bred in central qld, his mother is a kiwi and his father indiginous. So personally i dont undestand why he would want to play for NZ when he has spent his whole life in qld, but he is eligible for NZ and he must have his own reasons to play for them so good on him, he is entitled to that choice as are the rest of these players mentioned.
Brendan
Guest
Actually, just to correct a common misconception that Queenslander's have been alluding to for years... GI played his first senior footy for Newcastle Hunter when he was 16, not in Queensland. On that note, that means Uate and Tamou played their first senior footy in NSW as well as Mcmanus. You saying that Uate and Tamou are ineligible because they were born overseas and then moved here is then undone when you state that Te'o is eligible because he played in QLD, yet he was born in NZ and came here as a 17 year old. If you're going to try to justify something, at least make sure you aren't contradicting yourself as you do it. Also, saying that the Mcmanus situation is the same as the GI situation is silly. It is NSW vs. QLD, not NSW vs. QLD vs. NT. If you are born in NT, you are eligible to choose either state. If you play senior footy in one of those states, then you are only eligible for that state. You say that we Blues supporters just look for excuses but i think you Queenslander's are just looking for justifications to your selections, rather than the facts. Oh by the way, Josh Papalii was in the team this year and he is from NZ, so that makes 4 not 3.
Gristy
Guest
Got a bit of a chip there Dallas.
Dallas
Guest
What about Uate and Tamou?? Uate came over from Fiji when he was 18 and Tamou moved from NZ when he was 16. So as far as eligibility goes these two are as ineligable for NSW as much as any of the blokes for Qld. Inglis played his first game of senior football in Qld which is a rule that has been around for a long time and Ben Teo went to school at keebra park state high school in Qld and played majority of his junior football there which also makes him eligible for Qld. Will chambers was born in NT but he went to school at Wavell SHS I'm pretty sure, which is in brissy. But James McManus is also from NT but he is eligible for NSW because he played his first game of senior football there - same situation as Greg Inglis. besides these 3 the rest of Qlds squad are all born and bred Qlders. It also has to be noted that when Greg Inglis declared his intentions to play for Qld (great decision), Queensland had lost 3 series in a row and were on there way to a 4th series defeat so it not as if Greg Inglis jumped on the band wagon of a winning Qld team. He obviously had geniune reasons to play for Qld otherwise he would of just played for NSW who were dominating at that time. You blues supportes just love to make excuses.
Ryan
Guest
Great call
Gundy Dragon
Guest
If Q.L.D looses the third origin they will have to start scouting P.N.G, New Zealand and New South Wales for their next generation of home grown stars.
up in the north
Guest
I don't know about that Kurt. Being the side that finally lost the shield after eight series, I'd say they firmly grasped the reality of their position. The last game is going to be huge. Hopefully the ref's don't mess it up like they did in game two.
Paul B
Guest
Next year will be an absolute cracker. Should the Blues take out the series, that would be the definitive moment that signified the end of the Maroons era. At the moment, the job is only half done.
Kurt
Guest
Maroons just don't get origin