Despite signs pointing to a Blues victory in State of Origin Game 2, Queensland were very strong in Game 1, and on the wrong end of some 50-50 calls.
You know Queensland always rise for a challenge, and often enjoy the underdog tag. It was just last year where they were crushed 28-4 first up, and found themselves down 16-6 at halftime in Game 2, only to come back and win the series in comfortable fashion.
Kevin Walters faces an uphill task, but here are the three improvements that could see Queensland pull of another miracle.
Defence
It’s hard to believe the score was only 22-12 when Queensland missed 53 tackles.
Playing against the best players in the game, missed tackles cost Queensland dearly. James Tedesco had an unbelievable 17 tackle busts!
This needs to be dramatically improved.
Team selection
The Queensland side used to pick itself every year, however this has changed in the past two seasons.
In 2017, Walters made a ton of changes after Game 1 and it worked – the same needs to happen this year.
Assuming Billy Slater is fit, he slots straight back in at fullback. Not only does he still possess the ability to create something out of nothing, but his talk in defence is priceless, and you can almost guarantee that Damien Cook does not streak through and set up the first try if Billy is at the back, barking at the forwards to be alert.
He is a must and will boost the rest of the team with his presence.
The big debate is over the number 14 jersey. In game 1, Anthony Milford replaced Andrew McCullough and Ben Hunt slotted into hooker, a move which I disagreed with. Hunt was steering the team around the park and you felt that his organisation could allow Cameron Munster and Michael Morgan to play a little more freely and create something special.
When Milford came on, you saw similar problems the Broncos are facing, there was no one controlling the game and the cohesiveness of the side seemed to be lost. In the past, the Maroons have used the 14 as an extra back, granted Cameron Smith was never going to be replaced but I see no reason why McCullough cannot play 80.
Now the question is, who plays 14? Morgan has always done a solid job however in my opinion, it absolutely has to be Kalyn Ponga, particularly now Morgan is down injured. Kevin Walters seems reluctant to throw the 19-year-old into the Origin arena but this kid is a freak and will no doubt produce some magic.
(Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
His full debut season is drawing comparisons to the first seasons of players like Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Folau, so you know he will produce in these types of games.
Put yourself in the shoes of the NSW players, who is the last person you would want to see run onto the field in the 50th minute? Ponga would strike fear into the Blues, you might even get Nathan Brown out there, rapidly declaring “Ponga’s on!”
Second phase
Dylan Napa and Felise Kaufusi had one offload each, no other Queensland forward produced a single offload. Granted, the NSW forward only had three between them however, the Blues were having such success through Cook’s speed and Tedesco’s power that offloads were not needed.
The Maroons were struggling in attack, Munster either passed too early or ran into a brick wall and Morgan looked average on the sweep. As the game went on, it was disappointing not to see Queensland try some second phase play to attempt to mount a comeback, especially when Milford came on. Game 2 needs to see a few more offloads from the forwards to expose the NSW middle.
Overall, Origin 1 was a close encounter, a few key moments decided the game. The Blues were expected to win and lived up to the hype, however, the Maroons will go into Game 2 knowing that a few improvements could see them steal a win in Sydney and take the series to a decider at Suncorp Stadium, an arena known to give NSW players and fans nightmares!
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