It’s been a tough decade for the NSW Blues. State of Origin is always something to get excited about mid-season, but Blues fans have been confined to more a sense of optimism than real confidence that they can win the series.
This is due to the almost complete dominance of the Maroons over the past 11 years, winning all but in 2014. While that record couldn’t be considered acceptable for NSW, when you look at the kind of players Queensland have had you begin to understand why.
Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Greg Inglis, among others, have been the best in their respective positions over this time, some even flying close to Immortal status.
This dominance in key positions has eluded NSW, going a long way to creating the Queensland dynasty.
But with a number of Queensland players in the twilight of their careers, NSW want anything but to win merely because a host of legends are retiring.
Inglis is already out for the year. Thurston may miss a couple of games if not the series with a shoulder injury and has indicated 2017 will be his last season in the representative arena. Slater has missed the last four Origin games through injury and is off-contract at the end of this year. Cronk’s future remains undecided, while Smith is signed with the Storm until the end of next year, at which time he will be 35.
[latest_videos_strip category=”rugby-league” name=”League”]
The puzzle will become clearer as the series and the year goes on, but whichever way you cut it, the Maroons will lose some quality and experience for 2018.
When it was revealed that Thurston would miss some of this year’s series after such a long run of games, it was not met by positivity by Blues fans. NSW recognise just what a big impact JT has had on the game and the send-off he deserves.
Although without him the Blues’ chances increase, this may be the last opportunity NSW has to genuinely beat this champion team.
The prospect of 2018 featuring a new set of halves for the Maroons is strange but a genuine possibility now and while there are some great young players waiting to make their mark, they are no JT or Cronk.
When the teams run out in Game 3, in what is hopefully a decider, most fans want JT playing for the Maroons – you want to beat the best in this game and Thurston has made the past decade his own at all levels.
The Blues need a final opportunity to get one up on the maestro before another, hopefully brighter, era begins for them.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
MAl and Kevvy admitted they didn't need to really coach in a traditional sense, it was and is about management, training and leeping the group focussed basically.
Rob
Guest
He has 2 strong 100Kg plus defenders in Linnett and Cooper on either side of him for a reason. He is a smart player and very tough, but players are always looking to help him.
Rob
Guest
He is not as quick as he was 10 years ago. He scored 26 tries in his first 3 seasons at 0.44 a game for the Cowboys. In the last 3 seasons he has scored 7 tries at 0.12 a game. JT is probably one of the most competitive players in the game and is always looking for an opportunity but he isn't the same support player. He kicks short almost every play for the Cowboys in the red zone that is why he is in the action around the ball. JT's average miss tackles a game in 2015 (2.6), 2016 (3.6), 2017(4.5). His average kick meters have also been steadily falling over the last 3 seasons. Big call saying I don't watch much football or Cowboys? I haven't missed a game since they started and probably watch a replay of each game again when possible. You probably don't see what I watch for Michael.
Nate
Guest
1. Tedesco 2. Fergusson 3. Leilua 4. Hayne 5. Dugan 6. Maloney 7. Pearce 8. Vaughn 9. Peats 10. Fifita 11. Cordner (c) 12. Frizel 13. Merrin 14. Bird 15. Klemmer 16. Boyd 17. Graham 18. Jurbo
Hoy
Roar Guru
That's pretty solid, but your 2, and 4 might be injured now... I also think Moylan isn't a great 6, and plays a bit lightweight. I also note you don't have Dugan or Ferguson, and this is where the Aus selection is a bit silly. How those two get selected simply because they were selected previously is silly. The argument that they were rewarded for not stuffing up the last time they played for Aus, despite being out of form for their club means that if you are lucky to get selected, provided you don't bugger up big time, you will be selected again because you didn't bugger up royally, despite there being players in better form? I don't buy the fact they didn't bugger up is enough to justify their selection.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Except that it hasn't worked for NSW... Inglis was the worlds best centre before moving to 5/8, and then again to fullback. With Boyd, fullbacks and wings are interchangeable to some extent, but you have to have quality to start with.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Yeah, no, Thurston is massive in kick chases I would have thought... So many important tackles made by Thurston leading the chase hard.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I actually agree. Cronk is equally important to the Maroons as JT. JT is a great footballer, but Cronk is just so important to the organization of all the teams he is in. QLD really did miss him that year. Cronk runs the gam straight, whereas DCE floats across the field looking for runners. The team just weren't used to how DCE plays, and he was not effective at all.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Oates last year was better than Ferguson, but has been quite this year outside a centre who I would say is still finding his feet at the Broncs. Oates is not getting the ball he used to last year and the year before.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
I don't think you watch much footy Rob, Thurston is always leading the kick chase and if there is a loose ball he is somehow always the first one there. His support play is also fantastic. Don't know what game you're watching but it's not any game that Thurston is in.
Jeff Dustby
Guest
You mean like Inglis and Boyd playing out of position and killing it for a decade Novice
Jeff Dustby
Guest
Incorrect , JT is still killing it, had a great 2016. So premature
Jeff Dustby
Guest
It's in the halves, Qld has had the 6 or so halves in the last decade Lockyer Cronk JT Prince DCE Morgan Norman Better players in key positions Still I don't think Daley can coach And Mal was terrible without future immortals
Jeff Dustby
Guest
That is a totally false and nonsensical conclusion using one game as an example to
Larry1950
Guest
Thurston can't tackle, so you're suggesting that 12 maroons can out-defend the blues, what a wrap for your lot. Every smaller back struggles to ground big guys under full steam, the majority either wrapping up the ball until help arrives or going low & letting someone else go over the top. The days of one on one defence are well past. Seem to recall Maloney being trampled a few times last year & still think he's a decent player but then I don't have a severe bias like you. Have a look closer to home & see how many times your dragon's pommie international half has been run over in the past few seasons, speed bump materials? Milford, Moylan, Maloney, all decent 5/8's who miss the odd tackle. It happens. Thurston cleans up more dangerous situations than any other player I've seen, that's what makes him great.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
This is a dumb comment. You can have your opinion that he's not a great tackler, but he doesn't park himself on the wing in defence, pretty much ever. I don't watch every Cowboys game, but I've seen enough to know he tackles third man in, as per the standard formation, week-in, week-out.
Just do it
Guest
1. Tedesco 2. T Trbojevic 3. Croker 4. Hayne 5. Addo-Carr 6. Moylan 7. Maloney 8. Klemmer 9. Peats 10. Fafita 11. Jackson 12. Cordner 13. Frizell 15. Vaughn 16. Merrin 17. Graham 18. Bird
bearfax
Guest
I could sense the pendulum had almost swung in the Blues favour last year. Qld still have a very strong side but their aging top players dont have replacements at this stage who can match the brilliance of the QLD side of the past decade. This one will be very close and I think NSW will win it
Oingo Boingo
Guest
I see the lack of game plan as the biggest hurdle ,QLD have always done enough when it was needed ,even though NSW has quite often dominated in the forwards and all over the park. I just don't think Daley can coach , be it in the strategic side of things or his ability to bring the team together as a team . Mal has shown with the Roos and previously QLD , that he has the magic dust by the ton , I doubt Laurie even has a bag of it the size of the one SKD got caught with . And I won't cop this crap about the QLD team having these supermen in the team . The storm has had Cronk n Smith and on plenty of occasions Slater in their team , yet they haven't won Ten premierships in 11 years .Thats just a cop out .
GD66
Guest
I would be amazed if Thurston didn't play, he has an amazing record of rapid recovery and playing busted. He won't be NSW 's main problem though, Daley has pretty much said he'll pick good players and play them out of position just to get them out there, a formula which has failed in the past. I reckon it's Laurie's Last Lap this year.