NSW has lost another Origin series they were favoured to win, going down 22-12 to a spirited Maroons side in Brisbane on Wednesday night. Here are the major talking points.
Freddy. Does he stay or go?
When given this job in 2018, given the stars of QLD were retiring and NSW were emerging with a plethora of young talent, the Blues looked set for a period of dominance.
Brad ‘Freddy’ Fittler looked destined to take this team to the top.
Five years in, yes, he’s won three titles – you cannot take that from him – but he’s also suffered two bad defeats.
One was at the hands of the “worst QLD side in history” and now to a rookie coach in Billy Slater.
Upon all of these statistics, a few dubious selections he has made over the three games have caused headlines everywhere, namely no Josh Ado-Carr for the entire series, and a host of others.
His record in club land doesn’t hold up to an established level of coaching and now his Origin career is at a crossroads, when he could be arguably 5-0.
What the board of NSWRL do from here on out, will cause huge repercussions for them moving forward.
Brad Fittler (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Club success doesn’t always equal rep success
The Penrith Panthers are undoubtably the team of the season. They’re flying high like they have been the previous two seasons.
This year NSW took a chance to emulate that success, and selected a record seven Panthers for Game 3.
Outside of Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and potentially Api Korisau, the four other Panthers had not exactly lit up the Origin arena this year, or even throughout the season.
Jarome Luai attempted to take on a villain role whilst standing over injured Selwyn Cobbo, and boy did it come undone.
One shocker pass and a bad miss on Kalyn Ponga caused Luai to have an absolute shocker of a game.
Brian To’o has been a shadow of himself and Liam Martin and Stephen Crichton seemed like passengers the past two games.
I think it’s fair to say, a lot of these Panther boys owe their 30k a game cheque, to the likes of Cleary and Yeo. Pick players on form, regardless of team chemistry.
Don’t ever question Tedesco
Coming into this Origin series, albeit in shaky form, the questions surrounding NSW captain and fullback James Tedesco were coming far and wide.
It was time to play the player in better form over Teddy for Origin.
Well, in three games of Origin, despite a series loss, Teddy could’ve been very very unlucky to not walk away with the Player of the Series (Wally Lewis Medal).
He was immense in every game. Never stops trying and pops up in places only he can.
The captain should never be questioned for the job, as long as he is playing representative football.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Cleary and pressure, what do we make of it?
There’s been two Origin deciders and a grand final where Nathan Cleary has played his absolute worst games.
Many still believe he didn’t deserve the Clive Churchill Medal last year.
Hey, look at 2015, everyone with a brain knows Johnathan Thurston probably wasn’t deserving of his Clivey, but hey here we are!
Cleary lacked direction and control of his team on Wednesday.
The last play, is one of those freak plays that happens every now and then, but the 75 minutes played prior, we failed to see the talents we all know Cleary has.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a firm believer in Cleary has all the skills in the world to surpass Joey and JT, but I need to see it in a big game.
Who are NSW’s genuine enforcers?
No NSW forward strikes fear into QLD fans. Payne Hass is a tireless worker, moreso than a mercenary.
Cam Murray, Jake Turbo and Isaah Yeo are just skillfull workhorses who have all the skills in the world, just not the “hit man” type of vibe.
Junior Paulo tried to take it upon himself to create that tonight, just didn’t come off for me. Queensland forwards such as Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Josh Papali’i, Jai Arrow and Lindsay Collins, are coming for your head, whether you think it’s grubby or not.
NSW need to instil fear factor back into their pack, but maintain their intense amount of skill.
NSW need to rush Addo-Carr, Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton and Tommy Turbo in for 2023.
Ryan
Guest
I wouldn't be complaining if Chad, Moses or Reynolds was picked, all in form beating Cleary in try assists and very similar players to Cleary with probably Moses having the most natural talent. Also you could use the same argument comparing a tested dally m winner to Crichton, a lot of of people were saying that's a very easy decision in wightons favour and they were proven correct.
Foz
Guest
Good article. I think Freddy has no idea what he's doing. He constantly complains about the ruck rather than instruct NSW to slow it down. He constantly chops and changes and doesn't ever seem to give the new players instruction based on their performances. How does he expect someone like to Talakai to succeed when he's asked to play centre and an as an edge forward on a whim? That's asking a lot for an experienced rep player. Contrast that to how Qld blood their new players. They have a clear role and that's all they are asked to do. I don't know what people expect Cleary to do. He was ordinary in game 1, but he's been in NSW's best for the past three Origin series. On game 3 we got smashed in the ruck for 60 minutes and he had an assist from a kick, the Safiti try is off his run and quick play the ball, and Api narrowly missed another one from a kick. Pretty good for a half playing off the back foot. If you want to see pretty bad off the back foot look at Luai.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
Olakau'atu & Kolomatangi would be in front of Martin, Chriton, Simms, Matterson everyday of the week! RGC left out why? Coz Fittler, Alexander & Johns picked their favorites.....not the players who should have been there.
trebar
Guest
The 2 games NSW lost were a coin toss, not a lot to separate the two sides... QLD were well and truly beaten in Perth and the other two games were very tight affairs so really NSW overall probably performed best across all three games its just that QLD scraped 2 narrow wins out, Freddy and NSW will learn from this and l dont think they need to change much at all, l would however be concerned at the rapid rise of so many new young and talented QLD players.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Well we certainly know one team adapted far better than the other, but that might have even been with me coaching them ?
matth
Roar Guru
And yet QLD also lost a winger and front rower within 10 minutes. Capewell had to play centre, leaving QLD two forwards down. Which coach adapted better?
Dave F
Guest
Queensland were allow to attack the heads if NSW players. Foul play was allowed over and over. Swinging forearms to the jaw and side of head . The Gagai punching + whilr Tino grapping Burton around was a pathetic dog act.
Tony
Roar Guru
I'm prepared to cut Fittler as much slack as he likes. After all, he does live with the burden of having Paul McGregor as his assistant.
Randy
Roar Rookie
I think the Raiders are 9-1 against the Sharks in the past 10 games, perhaps you were getting that record mixed up?
Randy
Roar Rookie
He's a Dally M and Clive Churchill winner however I agree he's been poor the past 2 seasons - He's not a playmaker and never has been. Ricky wants him to be Brad Fitler circa 2002-2004, but he ain't. He can be a great centre and probably lock forward though.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Well, Cleary scored 1/2 of all the Blues points scored in that 44 point smash up. Whilst next man up Chad has scored 1 try in 4 years. The difference in ability between Nathan and Chad is vast and going into that game Wighton and Crichton, debatable, so can’t see how your hypothetical has any legs.
Albo
Roar Rookie
They would have had a Plan B, Plan C and Plan D, but someone decided not to use any of them ? The match plan A for Game 3 was pretty basic, but I think it was null and void once Cam Murray left the field. I suspect he might have been part of Plans B, C & D as well !
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
So let's take a sample from 2019 through to now, player A has a preliminary loss, a GF win and another Preliminary loss with 2 and 2 for origin Player B has a GF loss and a GF win with a pretty ordinary 2019 and is 2 from 2 in origin. One is the best player in the game and the other is still being questioned about his football ability, both play in the halves. It is staggering that people still question his ability, sure he's not in the elite class just yet but he's not far away :thumbup:
RLFan
Roar Rookie
My take on the game was our forwards were game, but outmuscled by a Queensland pack intent on causing mayhem. You are right in saying we don't have any enforcers and they were badly needed on Wednesday night - Cleary and Burton were both targeted by Tino and Corrigan, and I felt that very little pressure was put on the Queensland kickers. The Maroons admitted they did not want to be fielding Burton's bombs, and I think he only made one of his towering kicks, which was a strange strategy by the Blues. Daly Cherry Evans and Ben Hunt, older with more big game experience kicked cleverly to give their team an advantage. It was obvious that there was no plan B for the Blues, because nothing changed in the second half when it needed to.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
30 is now nigh on 50 is it? :silly: But Wighton missed the game through injury/illness and Crichton, while he did nothing wrong in Game 2, didn't excel. If Cleary had missed game 2 and Townsend or Moses stepped in, do we think Cleary wouldn't have walked back into the side no matter how well the replacement played?
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
This is part of why it's so successful. It may not always be a close game or series but it regularly delivers tough, high quality contests.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
You’re right I messed up the Raiders w-l, apologies.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! There is rarely anything between these teams . The odd bounce of the ball , a ricochet here or there, a missed forward pass , etc and many results could easily be reversed.
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
Even in that great era, most years a converted try to NSW or 1 fewer to Queensland, in one of the games could have changed the series result. 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 are all examples of this. In 2009 Game 2, a Queensland try in the final minute put the margin out to 10 but otherwise it was close. Even in 2010 when Queensland swept the series Game 1 and 3 were decide by 4 and 5 points respectively.
astro
Roar Rookie
Being a bit tough on the Raiders there...They're 5-4 in the last 9 games (including a win over the Sharkies) and have played well after a horror start to the season. I'm not a huge Wighton guy, but he did play well in Game 1 and didn't deserve to lose his spot, with or without the Game 2 win by NSW. I'd also add that Crichton wasn't amazing in that Game 2. Either way, I don't think NSW win with Wighton in the side, so agree the discussion around his non-selection being the difference is over the top...But, it says something about Freddie's selection process, which is a mess, and cost NSW the series.