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State of Origin 2 preview: Can NSW send it to a decider?

Paul Gallen will be back for the Blues. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Roar Rookie
16th June, 2015
5

Well, once again we arrive at Origin II and Queensland is on the verge of another series win.

How many times have us NSW fans been in this situation over the years?! It hurts me as much as everyone else, and the same old experts come out after every single selection bagging out who was picked and who wasn’t.

It’s the same old story.

STATE OF ORIGIN LIVE SCORES – GAME 2

What frustrates me the most, however, is the amount of people calling for a change in the NSW side halfway through the series, when the series is still very much up for grabs.

NSW lost by 1 point, not 100.

Hypothetically, let’s say Trent Hodkinson was able to nail the conversion for Josh Morris’ try – and we ended up 12-10 victors. Would you be screaming to change the side, or would you be yelling at Laurie Daley to stay loyal and stick to a winning combination?

I find it amazing how NSW continue to fight against a side with four future immortals, the Australian spine and a host of players that are considered the greatest of all time. On paper, we are never given a chance, year after year we “should just give the trophy to Queensland” before the series has even begun.

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More:
» State of Origin Game 2 Preview
» State of Origin Game 2 Teams
» State of Origin Fixture
» State of Origin

However, time after time, we fight – and a loss by a Cooper Cronk field goal is certainly not a failure.

So in saying that, here are my five reasons as to why NSW can win tomorrow night’s do or die clash at the MCG. In what should be a cracker, I think the Blues can take a lot of confidence out of Game One, and take the series to a decider up at Suncorp.

1. Blues’ confidence
What I saw NSW demonstrate in Origin 1 was a great self-confidence in their playing ability.

Particularly in the first half, there were a lot of positives in the way we took the game on and were able to put Queensland on the back foot with our forwards.

Dugan’s kick for Morris’ try is just one example of their willingness to take the game on, a play which ended up being a masterstroke by the fullback who is in career-best form.

2. Steamrolling forwards
What came with that confidence was a fierce and dominant forward pack that steam rolled over the Queensland forwards in the first half. However, it is something that will need to be maintained for the full 80 in Game 2, as a result of the Queensland pack basically running down hill in the second 40.

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David Klemmer was outstanding on debut, racking up 105m off 11 carries. Another standout in the forward pack for NSW was Aaron Woods, with 159m and 36 tackles in a tireless performance from the Tigers prop forward.

3. No Cooper Cronk
Do I need to say more? No doubting DCE’S incredible playing ability, but he is simply not of the same value to Queensland as the Melbourne Storm’s number 7.

He is the polish in what is already an outstanding Queensland spine, and being one of the best clutch players in the game, his absence will definitely be a positive for NSW.

4. Paul Gallen
Gallen’s return has definitely caused some controversy over the past week. He has had one game back for the Sharks, has come back from quite a severe injury and will be the oldest man on the park tomorrow night at 34.

What Gallen does bring to the side is experience; including 250 first grade games and 19 Origins, added with an arrogance and ‘no fear’ attitude that has seen him be tagged as one of the greatest NSW captains of all time.

He leads from the front and adds to that confidence that will be much needed to get on top early in Game 2.

5. Loyalty
Daley and the selectors have been scrutinised heavily over the past three weeks since the first game. Trent Hodkinson has been under constant pressure due to his lacklustre performances in his games for the Bulldogs. There’s no denying that the NSW halfback may be lacking some confidence.

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The fact the Daley has stuck with the halves, and only dropped two players to bring two incumbents back. It shows great faith in not only Hodkinson and Pearce but the rest of the NSW side.

This allows them to work and improve their combinations – and the fact that they are now familiar with there roles and there how they can contribute to the team can only mean that tomorrow night we will see a much improved Blues side with a greater desire to win now that it is now or never.

Game 1 statistics
1. The Blues’ completion rate was at 91 per cent percent in Game 1, in comparison to 80 per cent for the Maroons.

Only four errors shows a great amount of discipline and respect for the ball shown by NSW.

It proves NSW understand the importance of field position and rarely gifted Queensland easy territory. Maintaining possession tomorrow night is imperative, NSW simply cannot afford to cough up possession in our own half and allow for easy piggy backs for the Maroons.

2. The kicking tactics were clear early in the game. Mitchell Pearce’s first two kicks were pinpoint, dropping right in front of the Queensland try line, forcing Slater to run the ball back himself without linking to his wingers for easy metres.

The kicks were high and long, and allowed for NSW to put in a good kick chase and force Queensland deep into their own half. Kick metres for NSW over 1000, in comparison to Queensland’s 791 metres.

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3. Despite the fact that Queenland had a majority of possession (56%), the Blues scored the same amount of tries.

Yes, Queensland bombed a try early in the second half, however, failure to execute is not an excuse for a game of Origin.

NSW threatened Queensland consistently in the first half – and despite the quality of the Queensland side, NSW can take a lot of confidence knowing that they were able to score the same amount of tries despite having less possession and field advantage.

4. Limiting Queensland to just five offloads is a great sign for NSW and there ability to limit the Maroons second phase play. With the likes of Greg Inglis and Justin Hodges on the edges, second phase play could mean hell for NSW.

Broken down play is a gift for players of their calibre, but NSW were able to shut down Queensland’s offloads and prevent them from gaining metres and possibly even more points.

Prediction: After coming so close in Game 1, I think with the amount of opportunities Queensland had, NSW can come away with a lot of confidence knowing they only held them to a total two tries.

There were a lot of positives in the first half in the way that NSW took control of the game and played with a great amount of confidence shows they are getting more comfortable.

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What comes with the loss, is experience. Now, with NSW knowing they can’t afford to put in anything less than an 80-minute performance after Game 1, I think they’ll be sending the series to a decider up in Suncorp.

NSW by 2 in a cracker.

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