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The NSW fightback starts now.
Following their 52-6 State of Origin mauling at the hands of Queensland on Wednesday night in the series decider, the Blues will waste no time going over every aspect of their preparation with a fine-tooth comb.
Coach Laurie Daley said he would sit down on Friday to begin analysing what was the worst loss in Origin history and try to ensure it was never repeated.
“We’re straight into it tomorrow morning,” Daley said at Sydney Airport as his team touched down on Thursday on home turf.
“Just have a a look at it while it’s still fresh in our minds.
“We’ll have a look at the (game three) review and then we’ll do our (analysis of the) week’s prep – what was that like. Then we’ll look at everything over the next couple of weeks to do with next year and see where we can improve.”
Daley said he was at a loss to explain the result but promised he and his team would get to the bottom of it.
He said the Blues were only off by “five or 10 per cent” and the hardest part was they had to wait 10 months to atone for it.
“The amount of ball that (Queensland) had, in that field position and the way they played, it was always going to be difficult to stop,” Daley said.
“We had to make a lot of tackles and we were fatigued. Once you start getting fatigued in that environment, everything goes pear-shaped.”
Calls will be made for further generational change in the NSW line-up after such an emphatic loss.
Daley hinted more players would be moved on however would not be drawn on which players were under the gun.
Luke Lewis and Anthony Watmough were overlooked this series while Greg Bird missed all three games through suspension, giving Canterbury duo David Klemmer and Josh Jackson their first taste of Origin.
Doubts also remain about whether captain Paul Gallen, who will be 34 by the time next year’s series rolls around, will go around again.
“That’s part of the plan; you look at what we’ve done this year,” Daley said.
“We went for a more younger sort of team … We’ve started to put young guys in and give them a taste of it. They’ll be better for the run. That’s a good lesson for them.”
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