A crestfallen James Tedesco has made the frank admission NSW were guilty of complacency and lacked a “want” to win in State of Origin I.
Tedesco was the Blues’ best on ground at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday but cut a dejected figure in the change rooms after the 18-14 defeat.
He was called on to make a number of try-saving tackles but said it never should have got to that point.
After his side gave up an 8-0 halftime lead, the tough-talking No.1 lamented their lack of killer instinct in the second 40 minutes.
“We just didn’t go after the win,” Tedesco said.
“We went out in the second half and hoped we would keep doing what we were doing and come away with the win.
“But it’s Origin footy and they were always gonna come back. Our intensity dropped and they dominated us that pretty much whole half except for the last 10 or so.
“We were just trying to hold on. We didn’t go out there and want to win it. It’s a bit frustrating.”
The Blues dominated the first half on the back of a near-perfect completion rate with their only dropped ball coming in the last set.
But the tide turned after the break as Queensland attacked with their defence and dominated yardage, making 848 metres to the Blues’ 662m in the second 40.
And while he was proud of his side’s defence and try-saving efforts, Tedesco said it was symptomatic of the Maroons’ dominance.
“We were scrambling and saving tries but we don’t want to be in those positions,” Tedesco said.
“We want to be defending well and not scrambling to save them.
“They made a lot of linebreaks from their own end. We were saving them but we shouldn’t have been putting ourselves in that position.
“Defensively there were a few issues.”
Tedesco was arguably the best player in the game last year, playing a leading hand in the Blues’ series win and Sydney Roosters’ NRL premiership victory before earning the Australian No.1 jumper.
But Queensland excitement machine Kalyn Ponga looks set to push him for his Test jumper and Tedesco said the Newcastle young gun was spurring him on to keep improving.
“I try to work on my fullback play defensively and in attack,” Tedesco said.
“Watching him motivated me as well.
“All the stuff he can do with the ball is pretty amazing.
“You always need guys to motivate you to keep improving and keep working hard and not rest on your laurels.”
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