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Opinion
Whenever a team that’s supposed to win doesn’t get the victory, they get accused of complacency but I don’t think that was the case with NSW losing the Origin decider.
What happened in games one and two is always going to be irrelevant when you’ve got a decider in Brisbane.
All the media coverage and speculation with Cameron Munster being out, I’m sure the Blues weren’t buying into that viewpoint that they were going to win big again like they did in Perth.
The players in that NSW team environment don’t go into games complacent no matter what – they were expecting a tough Queensland team and it was an extraordinary match.
In the second half Queensland had so much more field position and that was due to their clever tactics with their early long kicking game and their line speed to rush up and put pressure on the Blues.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
And it worked because NSW made a few blues, pardon the pun, coming out of yardage and the Maroons capitalised.
The Origin games are the toughest games in rugby league and to use those tactics when you were two guys down from the first couple of minutes was a brave call but it paid off.
There’s been a lot of talk since full-time that it was one of the greatest Origin games ever. It was definitely one of the toughest and a fantastic win by Queensland but I’m not sure that’s the case that the match itself was up there with the best of all time.
In any game at any level the five minutes either side of half-time is so crucial and that was another major factor in the final result.
For the Blues to concede a try after dominating most of the first half really took the wind out of their sails heading into the sheds. There was a little bit of luck involved with Harry Grant’s kick bouncing off Jarome Luai’s knee and Kurt Capewell did well to get to the ball first.
Psychologically it was not ideal going into half-time but there was still plenty to go on in the second half and Queensland started better again from the restart.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
It was a bit tough on poor old Matt Burton getting sin-binned. He retaliated and the rules are that you are going to get marched for that but Dane Gagai reacted to a collision prior to that and I don’t think there was much in that. It was accidental Burton collecting Kalyn Ponga as he ran back in defence.
Burton was getting punched by Gagai and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui had him in a headlock so what’s he supposed to do? Just cop it. He had to defend himself. Burton’s not a dirty player, he didn’t go looking for trouble but he can’t just cop the abuse.
The Blues lost their way after that. The Stephen Crichton offload that went astray in his in-goal area was one of those moments that gave the Queenslanders a sniff and they took it from there.
Selection wise, in hindsight I don’t think Brad Fittler did too much wrong. Jack Wighton could have come in but picking Siosifa Talakai meant he had some size on the bench to cover the pack.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The other selection he was criticised for was Jacob Saifiti and he went great guns. I was so proud of him the way he carried the ball with impact and got over for that try in the first half. He was really strong for his first Origin game and showed he belonged at that level.
There was another Newcastle Knight who played even better, much to my chagrin.
Kalyn Ponga looked dangerous all game and really stepped up with Munster being out. He took on that extra responsibility in a deciding game and every time he carried the ball, he looked sharp and was strong through tackles. He was finding his front and getting quick play-the-balls, hopefully he can bring that back to club footy.
Especially with Tom Trbojevic out, Ponga should be a fair chance of making the Kangaroos squad for the World Cup at the end of the year as James Tedesco’s back-up at fullback.
Billy Slater and Ben Hunt celebrate. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Teddy led from the front really well over the course of the series and if NSW won the decider, I think he would have got the Wally Lewis Medal but Patrick Carrigan deserved it for the way he brought strong carries and a lot of defensive muscle to Queensland.
Ben Hunt was the other player who I thought could have easily been given player of the series – the 40/20 kick in the second half at Suncorp Stadium was a huge play.
He’d have to be in the World Cup squad with all the positions he can cover and he’d be a fair shout to be starting hooker after the way he played for Queensland.