NSW are being lambasted for a poor performance in the second half of Game 2 of State of Origin, but the nous of their opposition has been underrated, and the magnitude of their win in Game 1 created an unrealistic expectation.
There is conjecture over which (if not all) of Queensland’s fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker will be declared rugby league Immortals once they retire. Darius Boyd and Anthony Milford are not subjects of the debate, and the Queensland team was stronger for them stepping aside in one way or another for Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston respectively.
After big games like Origin the minutiae of every player’s performance is analysed. One of the things that is difficult to measure is the quality of a fullback’s positional play. Some people think that Mitchell Pearce doesn’t know what he’s doing in high pressure games, but Billy Slater knows exactly what Pearce is doing.
Before he was forced off the field through injury in Game 1 Pearce was regularly able to find the ground with both attacking and clearing kicks. In the 55 minutes he played, his kicks hit the ground six times before being returned by Boyd or his wingers. In Game 2 Pearce’s kicks hit the turf at ANZ Stadium just twice. Both were returned by Dane Gagai, Pearce couldn’t beat Slater once.
James Maloney also managed to get the ball to the ground six times with kicks at Suncorp Stadium, but was handled comfortably by Slater in Game 2, reaching the grass just twice.
In the 16th minute of Game 1 Mitchell Pearce put up a bomb from Queensland’s 40 metre line and Corey Oates caught it millimetres in front of his goal-line and was met by NSW defender’s ten metres later. In the 69th minute of Game 2 Pearce put up an almost identical kick from an almost identical position. Slater waited for it with one foot on his goal-line and the Maroons started their set 20 metres away, with an extra tackle in hand.
It’s plays like this that make me question the criticism of the Blues’ halves’ performance in Sydney. I wonder whether it was just more obvious that they are mere mortals when contrasted against two of the game’s greatest ever players.
Certainly the changes Queensland made up front were not the difference. Their starting props both only made two runs for just over 20 metres before they were benched, and while Andrew Fifita didn’t break the line in the same fashion as in the first game, the cracks were still there for Maloney and James Tedesco.
Thurston was not at his best (he was playing with only one working shoulder) but he still had more runs and gained more metres than Milford did in Game 1. Thurston made more tackles than Milford and despite missing more he made his most important one, when Tyson Frizell was gunning for the line.
The obvious difference Thurston made was his goal-kicking, converting three chances that were all harder than the one Smith missed at Suncorp.
( AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
But it was not just off the kicking tee that Thurston’s boot improved the Maroons. In Game 1 Milford didn’t have a single kick in general play. This allowed the Blues to place more pressure on Cooper Cronk than they could on Wednesday night. Having Thurston’s kicking available enabled Cronk to run or pass on the fourth without fear of being tackled and denying his team an effective fifth tackle option.
NSW can also take solace that they were still in the game until the end despite their left hand side defence missing tackles and conceding penalties, as well as dropping balls and throwing errant passes in attack.
Indeed, had Maloney found Hayne on his inside, rather than Brett Morris on his outside for the 24th minute try, he could’ve had a kick from in front of the posts, and Thurston’s match-winner would’ve only tied the game – although he probably would’ve just potted a field goal minutes later anyway – see the 2015 grand final.
The Blues will be buoyed by Thurston’s absence for Game 3. Corey Norman, Michael Morgan and Daly Cherry-Evans could all offer more with the boot than Milford, but none of them are in contention for Immortal status. That said, NSW will still have three other candidates to deal with…
The Barry
Roar Guru
But not every fullback has the smarts to do it or the nerve to try it.
Albo
Guest
But the point is , that it was another dreadful kick by Pearce ! Putting no pressure on the QLD defence, and handing them a set of 7 out of trouble ! Nothing to do with the minutia of Slater's performance. Any decent fullback would have done the same thing with such a useless bomb.
Albo
Guest
Joe, whilst I would agree that the inclusion of immortal bound Slater & the one armed Thurston improved the chances of the QLD side for Origin 2 just by their presence on the field, the reality is that NSW 2nd half performance was awful and it was the NSW drop in performance from Game 1, rather than the presence of Slater and Thurston, which saved the series for QLD. NSW just blew it all by themselves ! The comparison you make with the Pearce & Maloney kicking games just highlights how poor they kicked particularly in that 2nd half. It was not Slater and Thurston that made Hayne butcher a try on halftime that would have wrapped up the series for NSW. It was not the presence of Slater & Thurston that caused Graham & Maloney and others to miss a regulation tackle on McQuire that led to a 60 metre try from nowhere to give QLD a sniff of a victory. No point trying to sugar coat the result on Wednesday night. Slater was his usual dangerous self but mostly contained. Thurston was struggling all night, with only his goal kicking and "presence" the only thing he provided. The reality is that NSW simply handed QLD a get out of jail free card.
Joe McGrath
Roar Rookie
Cheers Baz. I think when we're dominating and go down by a skerrick the players cop much more of a beating than if it's vice versa. It's certainly annoying from the armchair but it's what the qlders are specials at, and really it's no good to only play one good half whether it's the first one or the second. There really wasn't much in it and the qld champions seemed the difference, that kick was a big play for mine. Another little contrast like that I noticed was Maloney manhandling Boyd on the first blues set in Game One. He pulls Darius off Teddy, pushes him and Darius runs off. First time Maloney tries to rough up Slater he gets penalised and Billy gets in his face.
Joe McGrath
Roar Rookie
Thanks for saying Max. From what Lockyer was saying last night I think he's pushing for Munster to take Boyd's spot in the centres. If he's at 5/8 I'm not sure if O'Neill comes back or they shift Gagai to bring Oates back, you'd think the latter would be the better bet but Lockyer didn't sound keen on taking Gagai off the wing - and he has been one of their best so I can understand the hesitation. Getting shorter by the minute, I think I saw $1.75 just before. I'd just be happy with a win, never mind the punt haha.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Loved the title of this article. That was such a clever play by Slater that I forgot about in the wash up. Such a huge difference between being tackled on the 10 or a 7 tackle set from the 20.
kk
Roar Pro
Enjoyed your read of the game, Joe. I reckon the Storm's big 3 will push for Munster in the #6. NSW @ $1.82 does not appeal. A no bet game.