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Seven years ago on the Footy Show, Phil Gould told those there and the TV audience that, “We simply can’t wait for these great Queenslanders to retire and then try and start winning; we need to come up with a plan to beat them now”.
Fast forward seven years, and with Queensland having won 11 of the last 12 State of Origin series and with greats like Jonothan Thurston, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk pulling up stumps, we know that the Blues didn’t come up with the formula to break them down. The greats just kept on winning and winning and winning. Then they retired.
After eight series it seemed like Queensland were after a new challenge, and their remarkable streak ended in 2014. However, presented with a new challenge of how they responded to a series loss, they won three straight, including a decider in 2015 that ended 52-6 in their favour.
So why couldn’t New South Wales unlock the secret to breaking the Maroons dominance? The answer lies in the triumvirate of Laurie Daley, Paul Gallen and Bob Fulton.
Daley was a former Blues legend who had an excellent record as a player and captain of NSW. What Daley did well was prepare. He spent a lot of time in preparation for the three matches he took charge of in a season.
However, he had his shortcomings. He was far too loyal as a coach and far too nice. Whereas some coaches would command respect from their players, who would fall in line and then put their bodies on the line for their leader, he was someone who tried to keep everyone happy by being everyone’s mate. This rarely works in the world of coaching.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
When Queenland defeated NSW 52-6 in 2015 to claim the series, you couldn’t have had more obvious evidence for a need for change at NSW. However, little changed. His mate Fulton was still the sole selector, now in the form of ‘mentor’; his captain, Paul Gallen, was still selected; and the same losing captain talks were given that nobody had bought into before, and they weren’t bought into after.
No coach had lost four series as a coach, but Daley’s record of one from five series meant he was the first and only one to reach this unwanted milestone.
Bob Fulton as a player was before his time. He had the talent and skill to play a modern game in the slower paced 70s. As a coach his ‘us against them’ approach suited Manly to a tee in the 80s and 90s. But by the turn of the millennium the sport had left Bozo behind.
Bob Fulton’s record from 2001 to 2016 as an Origin selector and mentor ended with four wins from 16 series. His last 11 series resulted in only one win; however, Fulton was untouchable. In any other sport there is no way a selector with such a poor record would have stayed in his role, but Fulton called the shots and NSW kept on losing.
Paul Gallen’s record in Origin was one series won and ten series lost. This unwanted record will never be beaten. Gallen tried to get Origin, he tried to take Queensland on with nonsense like ‘hate’ and ‘anger’, but Queensland’s victories were built on skill and talent. With Corey Parker and Nate Myles, they weren’t free from cheap-shot merchants either, but while they mixed it with superior talent, the Blues were busy focussing on how much they hated the Maroons, a formula that failed time and again.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
An indication Gallen didn’t get Origin was this year calling for the inclusion of Blake Ferguson. It couldn’t be any more clear NSW needed a change in direction that didn’t come with the overly loyal Daley, and Brad Fittler and Greg Alexander have pounced on this. To go back to the Dugans and Fergusons would just be going back to the same old that lost to Queensland consistently in the past. Gallen just didn’t get this when commenting leading into this year’s series.
So back to what Phil Gould said seven years ago – NSW didn’t achieve it. If they win it this year, it’s because the wheel has half turned. And soon, with Slater and Inglis nearing an end, a brilliant era for Queensland will have ended. NSW only got them once in that time from 12 attempts, a domination that is unlikely to ever be matched again.
The triumvirate of Daley, Bozo and Gallen wasn’t the solution for NSW, so they have looked to the foot of the mountains. Penrith’s two greatest ever footballers have been put in charge to kickstart the Blues into a new era.
It’s better to start late than never.
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