Cleary will be out for revenge, it’s his time, the stage is set for him to dominate game 3 and go down as one of the origin greats - the media. Probably.
Absolute brilliant player for Penrith. His kicking game for Penrith is elite too. But besides a few good moments against 12, hasn’t done much. It’s frustrating to watch. Even his usually reliable kicking game, does have the same effect at this level. It’s tricky though, I think he’s the best 7 in club land. So do you pick the best? Or do you give somebody else a go?
Moses long kicking was probably the only thing saving both for game 3 too. Was a good pressure relieving outlet.
Unfortunately, I think Lucas drops out. He looked busy. Seemed determined to get involved early. Lots of tackles. Was always making his runs. Maybe the fatigue got to him a little, he was a bit off the pace in a few breaks down the right, and a few defensive moments. I feel bad for him. I don’t think he’s the issue, but I don’t think the game we play suits his strengths or really involves him. We don’t really shift it to our edges - prefer to give it to our middles to run through the middle. Hopefully he comes back to us intent on proving that he’s a much better player than he was allowed to be.
We look intent on trying to ground out a 8-6 victory. QLD just have the sole intention of scoring points.
Their players just lift to a new level and look like they thrive being in an environment with other great players.
We just always look so disjointed.
I struggle to see what the point was in bringing AFB on for 10 minutes, replacing him with Strange. He didn’t really come on and bend the line, just took some carries.
To’o has dropped significantly. Such an easy target to isolate with a taller winger and kick to them.
Walker, Munster, Ponga and Grant all play their origin role superbly. Munster summed up a few of their attacks perfectly with his kicking game.
Feel like Sharpe would offer more at fullback than Tedesco sometimes.
A few painfully obvious observations:
Cleary was well below his best, but had to be needled for his hip pointer injury.
Laurie looks stunned during the game when the cameras were on him. His only accountability is”it is what it is, but we have to be excited about the challenge at Suncorp”. Put simply, he has nothing and the game has passed him by. I have no idea what Laurie’s style of play is, so can’t understand some of the team selections.
Tedesco is fried. Other than one attempt at contesting a kick near QLD line, he wasn’t spotted. Edwards did nothing wrong and should never have been replaced.
Our forwards have just not cut it in this series and have not displayed any mongrel. It was great to see Lindsey Collin’s play Origin football last night!
NSW have played a style of football from a different era. The Trent Loredo try for QLD was a prime example of the contemporary style being played in the NRLatm.
QLD get Original so much better than NSW. Just watching Ponga getting around the QLD players before half time break with enthusiasm, then watching the NSW team as they trudged off(even though NSW were leading) said it all for me.
All aspects of Origin football for NSW needs a brutal review of the scorched earth variety as we have gone from the penthouse with Maguire to the ****house with Daley over a very short period, and essentially with the same or very similar team.
Take the time to select a coach who knows what they are doing both technically and on a human level, and at all costs , avoid a past it, irrelevant, wannabe who has mates in the organisation.
