For the first time in five Origin series, Laurie Daley’s NSW squad scored more points than Queensland this season, despite losing the series 2-1.
On that basis alone, Daley deserves another crack.
Even in Daley’s sole series success, in 2014, Queensland scored 44 points to 26 – the overall total bolstered by the Maroons’ 32-8 victory to avoid a whitewash.
But let’s return to this season to break down the points.
NSW won the first 28-4 at Suncorp, no mean feat, by playing superb rugby league. They also led 16-6 at halftime in the second, with a series win only 40 minutes away.
But for some inexplicable reason, NSW took the foot off the pedal.
Let’s break the points down into 40-minute halves.
In the first 120 minutes, NSW scored 44 points to 10 – emphatic.
For the next 120 minutes, Queensland scored 34-6 for the Blues to lose yet another series – pathetic.
How NSW fell in such a big hole could only be poor captaincy, or being too cocky for their own good. Neither reason can be attributed to Daley, he wasn’t on the field.
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But the coach can take some solace, however small, in the fact NSW scored 50 points to Queensland’s 44 in the series.
That stat deserves another crack, on two provisos.
That Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson have their papers stamped ‘never to play Origin again’.
They had such scant respect for their coach and teammates they took off for Lennox Head to get on the drink just five days before the Origin decider.
NSW hasn’t a culture like Queensland, no-one would dare do that to Mal Meninga or Kevin Walters.
Because there’s no culture in NSW, stick and pick mustn’t apply, Daley must select form players only, irrespective of age, or experience.
Just form.
If Luke Lewis, Nathan Cleary, James Roberts, Mitchell Moses, and Akuila Uate are playing as well next season as they have been this season, they must be in the squad.
Lewis, in particular, must be Origin reinstated after a four-year gap, and as captain. There wouldn’t have been that dramatic fallout in the last 120 minutes this season had Lewis been skipper, and not Boyd Cordner.
Lewis will be 34 years young, and despite having passed the 300-game mark in the NRL he’s playing the rugby league of his life.
Cleary is the hottest young player in the NRL and, barring injury, will be a leading light for NSW and eventually Australia for a decade.
As an added bonus, Cleary will be a very handy second-string goal-kicker as well.
Moses is tailor-made for Origin, with Benny Elias’ genes in his make-up as the son of Elias’ sister. Moses is also a natural and, like Cleary, will be around for a long time.
AAP Image/Dean Lewins
A reappointed Daley will need to tell Jarryd Hayne and Andrew Fifita the facts of Origin life. Both are electric game-breakers on their day, but those days aren’t close.
An edict from Daley prior to Origin 1 next season would be get cracking, or run the risk of missing Origin 2. A simple case of shape up, or ship out.
The more you think about it, Laurie Daley is set to win his second series in six attempts. But only if he dumps the pick and stick plan, and selects form players irrespective of age and experience.
Kathryn
Guest
I'm with you Nostradamus, Tooves is the man for the job. He has proven success at every level of the game & that 'terrier hanging off your trouser- leg' approach. 1st player picked should be Turbo. He's a superstar in the making, a long way into that 'making' & speaks X factor in volumes.
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
Qld normally have next year's team sorted in June ............ :)
Bluey
Guest
It's about time somebody said it like it needed to be about Woods. He's an absolute plodder. Blocker said the thing he liked about his era were blokes looking for a shot and getting on top of their opposition.
Albo
Guest
I'd be happy to back NSW in the first series following the retirement of Smith, Cronk & JT. I'm sure we would soon see just how much the NSW "culture" has suddenly changed.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
I love you Baz
Oingo Boingo
Guest
They've heard worse.
Agent11
Guest
Hit the nail on the head. It's as much a culture and mentality problem for NSW as a not having the right cattle problem. Right now QLD could win another 5 in a row and they won't have Smith, JT or Cronk. They will do it with Munster, Milford, DCE, Taylor, Mcullough or whoever. What will NSW excuse be then?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
lol
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
Baz,i'm crying here!!!!
J.C.
Roar Pro
Great minds think alike Barry. And its pretty insulting to suggest that both of us dropped out of school. He has a diploma and im currently studying a degree. But i guess we all cant have an up standing Western Sydney Belmore education.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I agree in principle Albo but not entirely. There's no doubting Queensland has a far superior side, but over the past 12 years NSW has been good enough to win one out of every three games, which is probably reflective of where the two sides are at. But they've only been good enough to win one series out of 12. There's something not right about that and while this Queensland team is better it's not really a 11-1 better team. The attitude of inferiority and "we have to wait for these blokes to retire" has hamstrung this side.
The Barry
Roar Guru
You really are alike though. From reading your comments I'd have sworn you grew up together, went to school together, repeated together and dropped out together. It's amazing.
J.C.
Roar Pro
Johnny to answer your question, he is a work college
J.C.
Roar Pro
That's an insult to both our mothers
J.C.
Roar Pro
Nope, known him for about a year a half now, long after his insane Rockhampton days. Recommended me to this site about six months ago and its rather interesting what the site has to offer. He wanted to continue his work but i couldn't, his work is his own and anybody that tries to emulate it is a fool. Besides this i didnt want to be thought as a BigJ 2.0 or something. He should be back around grand final week, depending how his work goes
Matt Jones
Guest
And Qld don't ?
Swannies
Guest
Woods should be given another crack too. Give Laurie, Pearce, Fifita, Dugan. Woods and Hayne another go in 2018. Farah is waiting in the wings too. Gallen also looks promising.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That was laid out like a poem KT. I read it like it was a poem and really enjoyed it. Cheers. There's not enough rugby league poetry. Thomas Keneally killed it off.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Same mother .
thomas c
Guest
A call needs to be made and it shouldn't hinge purely on a single success. You should win 2 out of 6 by accident. You need a measure that something is happening. A new generation of QLD players with some dudes looking down the barrel of retirement shouldn't be the benchmark. The benchmark has to be taking steps towards being good enough that you would have troubled the Queensland team at its peak. If you win one series, then everything is smiles and sunshine provided that the next generation of QLD players don't then spend the next decade beating you up. I just don't know what signs of life would be proof enough.