They say that Origin is won in the middle of the field. If this one was, it was because Queensland wanted New South Wales to play there.
Billy Slater’s tactics were pretty clear from the start – unsurprising, really, given that their off-ball work was exactly the same as it was last year.
Brad Fittler can only have himself to blame for not seeing it coming, given that Queensland picked the team with a clear indication that this was how they were going to play it. All the middles on the bench to keep the defensive effort going, with speed prioritised out wide. They doubled down on 2022.
Last year, the outside backs were the key element of their defensive work, and remember, the only greater truism than ‘Origin is won in the middle’ is ‘Origin is won by defence’.
The great innovation of year two of Slater’s term was with the ball, where the Maroons were far more expansive and made the absolute most of every scoring opportunity that came their way.
They lost possession by a million miles and the territory by even more. 67% of the game was in their end and Queensland accumulated just 11 tackles inside 20, but came out of it with five tries.
Working from the outside in
The Maroons’ defence was as good as ever. The headline act, obviously, is their resilience, because everyone loves that at this time of year. Undeniably, the double effort from Murray Taulagi to deny James Tedesco and Tyson Frizell over the line was exceptional work.
But it’s the smarts as well as the heart. Just like last year, both centres were alert to the first sign of a shift and shot the line, removing the options from the halves and angling the play back into the middle.
Val Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow were never likely to win many battles if isolated one-on-one, and indeed, the Hammer managed 17 tackles for no misses, shutting down the right edge of NSW along with Taulagi.
Holmes missed six tackles, but every one of them contributed to NSW turning back inside, sending the footy where Queensland wanted it to be. Dane Gagai was worth ten in last year’s Game 1 and was close to best on ground.
Once they were in the centre of the field, it was feeding time. Reuben Cotter was a machine, racking up 37 tackles, with Pat Carrigan and Lindsay Collins not far behind. The combined hookers got 59 between them. It was heroic, Origin legend stuff.
Tevita Pangai Junior of the Blues offloads during game one of the 2023 State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and New South Wales Blues at Adelaide Oval on May 31, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
On the other side of the ball, the attack was designed almost perfectly to rest the men in the middle to let them focus on defending.
Queensland spread early at times and forced the issue, moving the Blues from side to side whenever they had the ball. That resulted in some dropped ball, as it inevitably does, but also gave them all their points. it was a gamble well worth taking.
The Maroons didn’t need a sniff of good ball to go to their edges and looked primed to maximise a perceived speed advantage. The Hammer got around Tom Trbojevic more than once, making him look like a fullback defending in the centres, and Reece Walsh was able to be impactful from the back through his pace.
It was the willingness to move the footy that created the doubt in the defence’s mind that allowed Munster to create the opener for Tabuai-Fidow and paid dividends again Selwyn Cobbo.
Not for the first time, Slater got his tactics spot on and made the Blues play into his hands – and it started from the outside in.
There have to be questions about Fittler’s response to it, because it’s a set-up he has faced before. NSW were able to change the question in Game 2 last year through smart kicking in behind the shooting centres, and they got joy in 2021 through early shifts themselves.
But there was none of that here. One try was well worked, but another was a fluke and a third was from a kick. It’s was a horror night for Fittler.
James Tedesco of the Blues is tackled during game one of the 2023 State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and New South Wales Blues at Adelaide Oval on May 31, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
What happened to the Blues’ attack?
The tactical lines going in were as complex on the Blues’ side as they were simple for the Maroons. While most could guess fairly accurately how Slater would approach the game, Fittler’s intentions were less clear.
Would Trbojevic stick to one side, or would he roam like it was 2021 all over again? Would picking seven of the 2022 Penrith team work this year, even when it didn’t last year? How would Nicho Hynes even get on the field?
NSW had ample opportunity to use Turbo in a free role in the first half, given they enjoyed 22 sets, the bulk of which were in opposing territory, but it took until minutes before half time for him to pop up on the left.
The Penrith connection seemed to be half-working, in that it produced the first Blues try through clear combination play from Jarome Luai and Liam Martin, but also not, as Isaah Yeo almost never took the ball to the line like he does at the Panthers, preferring instead to drop players on inside crash lines.
The upshot was that a whole heap of good ball went begging. Part of that was superb Queensland tackling, allied to a decent lump of Maroon maleficence, with play the balls slowed right down and referee Ashley Klein only periodically objecting.
James Tedesco of the Blues is tackled during game one of the 2023 State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and New South Wales Blues at Adelaide Oval on May 31, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
But another part was a disconnectedness in attack that left them easy to defend. Stephen Crichton seemed to have forgotten how to pass, making just one in the opening 40 and Turbo managed the same, which was in his one foray to Crichton’s side. Josh Addo-Carr and Brian To’o could have caught a South Australian cold on their wings.
If there was a Trbojevic roaming role, it was on last plays. Nathan Cleary’s kicking from mid-range was designed to allow Turbo and Stephen Crichton to challenge Reece Walsh, and from closer in, they were like a homing missile on a very specific area around either side of the posts.
It was a smart ploy: both Critta and Turbo tower over their opposing numbers, Holmes and Tabuai-Fidow, and there were multiple occasions where NSW won first contact on the ball, but in the end, it was too little too late when it worked for Crichton’s try.
For a side with so much talent to get so much good ball and turn it into so little is a travesty. The Panthers connection was foiled, just like it was last year. Fittler needs to think long and hard about whether or not we see it again in Brisbane.
wilbas
Roar Rookie
Also Holmes got bathed by starford Toa on the right side the week before when Tigers flogged them mising 6 one on ones.
wilbas
Roar Rookie
Slater looks at NSW weakness...he knows turbo has no acceleration so would put a kick in behind him if needed .. Burton had his time and desire taken from him in game 3 last year..Billy targeted him for special treatment which was designed to remove his time lining up a high torpedo kick.
wilbas
Roar Rookie
Frizell's try by the balance of probabilty was a try...He had to have made contact with the ground but the stupid system requires a visual confirmation...Get some footy heads in the bunker
wilbas
Roar Rookie
Also Addo Carr dived for the tackle which was a bridge to far and instead should have stayed in the contest to allow Tedesco options with Hammer tearing down with support....Hynes did step out of formation going up to cut the attack off but Munster being the difficult proposition he is ,he drifted along the line brushing defenders away.. NSW goes camping but never take a can opener with them...The last time we had a defense breaker was Andrew Johns...
Pop
Roar Rookie
Someone saying “It is what it is”
Pop
Roar Rookie
JAD elbow into Walsh looked ugly and premeditated.
Pop
Roar Rookie
Couldn’t understand the ploy to bring Hynes on that late. It didn’t make a lot of sense.
wilbas
Roar Rookie
TURBO HAD FLAT TYRES..should not have played.
wilbas
Roar Rookie
BULLSEYE
wilbas
Roar Rookie
100% right...Slater understand the limits of SOO football just the same as he tormented Burton last year and barely had to worry about towering bombs...Only one went up and it found the ground...Also Cleary seems to pick the side as he bought his good mate Crighton in last year which proved a disaster, Fitler is in the virtual and not the reality of SOO...QLD sides plan on bending the rules all game...that is origin.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
it just feels like qld dominating again as a blue i feel that way qld just seem to be on another level freddys record stands at 3-3 if he loses this series which stands up historically but the expectation seems to be should be doing a lot better only a series win can save him i think at the moment he is being outcoached
Lance Boil
Roar Rookie
I stand corrected. Makes you think why the long faces?
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
three of the last 5 series
Aeron Gribble
Roar Rookie
Agree Rakshop it's about knowing your players strengths and weaknesses. And developing a team around that. It's all the little things. This forum has pointed out numerous weaknesses within the NSW side that the coaches have either missed or failed to correct with their team. Defensive misses are going to happen at this level the players are too good individually. Just ask Val Holmes after playing the Tigers. But that is why your defensive structure needs to be at its best to cover those misses. Don't blame Hynes he should never have been in the centres. Cleary missed him first and that's what Munster does. It's the game smarts and free flowing footy that Queensland play that allows them to score more points. Footy 101. Munster knowing the speed of the defensive line at the start of a SOO grubbers behind the line. Try. Cleary doesn't. Footy 102 DCE isolates fullback with blindside bomb. Takes the centre and secondrower out from blocking runners and by kicking slightly in field takes out the winger. Becomes a contest tedesco is out leapt in. Not his fault. No defenders to help. Cleary bombs constantly where Qld can get numbers around the kick. Footy 103. Qld lose a player to the bin lose a winger to injury. Ben Hunt for a full set was on the left wing and NSW did not take one play down their right side, Cleary's side. Next set Munster sees Nicho Hynes in the centres and thinks he is out of position lets test him. Heads up football. Try Fittler picks 2 players, Young and Pangai with poor discipline. And it was costly. Tedesco lacks the ability to regularly link with his outside backs. That is his biggest problem. Cleary lacks creativity. Sweeping ball movements are harder when the ball is coming slow from dummy half. Api might be crafty from dummy half but he takes time away from his halves . And with a rushing defense it exarcibates the problem. Footy 104, if your time is being cut down by a rushing defence take a couple more steps back and give yourself room. The sweeping backline movement that led to Walsh putting Cobbo over starts with the depth of the halves. In criticising all this Qld have their problems. Nsw had significantly more time in possession , metres gained and post contact metres. They dominated the game. If Nsw fix their attack and capitalise on their dominance with points Nsw would have won convincingly. How do they fix it? The spine needs to change. There is no fluency. You need players in 6 7 and 1 that are equally adept at chiming in on both sides of the field. And Cook needs to start. Campbell Graham to right centre. Lattrell doesn't have the fitness to play fullback at origin unfortunately that leaves Turbo, Edwards or Kennedy. Turbo if fit. If not Edwards. Halves hynes and walker. They both provide superior service to their outside players. Defensively not as strong. But qld have always known to have their most creative players in the spine. They also have followed the Wayne Bennett mould of having strong defensive second rowers around them. Billy Slater gambled on the Hammer and it worked. But it nearly didn't. The Hammer admitted as much that Tulagai saved his defensive mistakes. And if NSW went that way more often they would have had success. Liam Martin to start. A good hole running second rower is critical to sweeping backline plays.
Col in Paradise
Roar Rookie
NSW could pick Reynolds…he is in fine form…his kicking game better than Cleary…put Walker in at 6 as this year excellent and i yhink his defence is up heaps this year…noting with Reynolds the Qld Broncos players might be a bit hesitating to hammer him as he is their main hope to make the top 4….
Worlds Biggest
Roar Pro
Fittler is getting seriously found out as an ordinary coach. The Blues were poor last night. No excuses for the team not to be up for this one. They had so much possession but couldn’t conure up much at all. Why he started two rookie’s beggars belief. None of the big names fired a shot at all. Teddy is miles off his best footy and Turbo is not 100% which we all know. Trell was sorely missed. The try conceded to Hammer at the end with a man up was criminal. That should never happen. Too much rubbish under Fittler and his Chief Advisor.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It's a pretty simple point. The main reason NSW were winning a couple of years back and not winning now is because Ted in particular is a shadow of himself. Add Turbo struggling a bit and Trell missing. The superior tactics weren't the main reason for the win. How are the Chooks going? Is it about the form of players or tactics? I'm claiming it's mainly about the form.
Tetley
Roar Rookie
Spot on. The other thing slater has done so well is enhance the Queensland ethos. He brings the whole state into his press conferences and gives a lot of meaning to his troops' cause. It would be a shame to waste that sort of inspiration on politics but he ever wants to be premier of Qld I'll vote for him.
RedcliffeFan
Roar Rookie
Qld get Origin and play accordingly under great duress. Not so NSW.
Randy
Roar Rookie
I don’t understand the point you are trying to make, you are saying if NSW had their 2021 team with Turbo and Latrell running riot then things would have been different? doesn’t mean QLD’s tactics were not superior to NSW’s in last nights game.