Origin 3 debrief
I heard on the radio today that this State of Origin series didn't live up to the hype. I consider this shitty New Zealand sports journo dumbness. This series was fantastic. It had everything you could ever ask for in a three match series. The injuries, momentum swings, off field drama and extremely tough but exciting football. Yes, there may not have been the amazing tries. But it was a true test of both mental and physical strength, on the highest stage. Queensland came out on top after being pushed very hard by a pretty good NSW team, which ensures that in the coming years, Origin will keep progressing.
Queensland won because they have the game's best players. It really is as simple as that. It also helps that these great players, along with the rest of the squad who all do their jobs are good friends and form a tight bond. When push comes to shove, when the game is on the line, having footy brains and cool heads such as Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Jonathan Thurston will win you games. While they didn't do anything amazing in the final moments, their mere presence would have been enough. To have been a part of the huddle under the posts after Trent Merrin scored would have been a lesson for all sports people. The team leaders would have relayed a message of staying calm, keeping it simple and reinforcing Queensland values. This is what wins you big games.
Like I said in my preview, despite the eight in a row factor, all these series have been close. This was no different. Queensland were outplayed for large periods of the game thanks to some dominant go forward from NSW. But somehow they hung on. They were being outmuscled and to an extent out foxed (NSW were their own worst enemy) but they displayed courage and superior effort to keep the damage done by NSW minimal. The defensive efforts when NSW would shift the ball wide, stripping Queensland of numbers only to be thwarted by Queenslanders rushing across from the inside, make Origin victories.
With the ball, Queensland didn't do much. Apart from the early stages of the game, Queensland didn't have any substantial periods of possession down the NSW end. They couldn't set up for sweeping passing movements across the field, but kept plugging away. They attacked down the right edge a lot more than the left. They scooted out of dummy half to gain easy metres. They rumbled in through the middle thanks largely to Matt Scott's performance. They kept it very simple. Whether or not this was intentional or not, it worked.
Like I said, NSW were their own worst enemy. Dropped ball, daft penalties and pretty dumb all round play formed the foundations of their performance. NSW kept insisting on turning the ball back in to the middle with the likes of Andrew Fifita and James Tamou where four or five Queenslanders would be waiting. Every time NSW would attack an edge, they looked dangerous. But they attacked the edges not nearly enough. Each time they worked their way in to a strong attacking position, they would test an edge then come back in to the middle. I don't know why.
NSW had all the momentum, all the possession and territory but found a new way to royally fuck it up each time. The amount of times, a pass intended for a centre or a winger would either hit the deck or be behind the bloke, cost NSW. Despite having plenty of time together, their attack seemed to be a tad disjointed. There wasn't much chemistry considering that both their play makers and Michael Jennings play together week in week out. Then throw in just plain stupidity. If Andrew Fifita ever reads this, could you please explain to me why you had to push Billy Slater while he was in the air...then stand over him like your the Terry of all tough nuts. If Fifita lets Slater land, then smashes him, Queensland start with possession basically on their goal line. Instead they get a penalty. They often say, only worry about what you can control. Well NSW didn't take care of what they could control very well.
Where to from here? I can't imagine much will change north of the border. Brent Tate might retire from rep footy. He'll likely be replaced by someone like Justin O'neil, Will Chambers or possibly Jharal Yow Yeh. So expect much of the same from Queensland next year. I even think that they will benefit from having a bit more size and power out wide...no disrespect to Tate who has done a superb job and was Man of the Match last night.
For NSW, well who knows. The lack of domination by their halves is a worry. I'm not sure if they can afford to be loyal to Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney when Adam Reynolds and Josh Reynolds are playing their asses off each week. If Jarry Hayne was fit, I believe they would have won. So having him will help. The forward pack will remain the same depending on form, but I think they will benefit from this experience especially Fifita and be hungry again next year.