Men’s State of Origin Game 2 2026 - The Blues Vs The Maroons - 8:05pm Wednesday 17th June - MCG

frankLauda said:
I heard Keary mentioned they were not playing short to the second rowers in 360. And also playing him on right on debut out of position. Most of media are not blaming Lucus and it more a bad Laurie decision.
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Yeah exactly, Paul Crawley is just an idiot who doesn't pay attention and gives the cookie cutter analysis with no real thought into the diarrhea that comes out of his words.
jamesgould said:
It's going to be interesting to see who Australia go with in their halves for the World Cup ... Walker and Munster looks a lot more scary to me as a Kiwi than Cleary and Munster which was the combo for the Ashes series last year.
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You could wheel out Australia's third choice halves and it would still get the job done (at worst)
 
Seano said:
Changes at this point are like moving deck chairs on the Titanic...it might make us feel a bit better, but we're still in big trouble unless someone addresses the rather large hole in the ship *.

* Loz is the hole in the ship in this analogy.
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Honestly, after watching the first 2 Origins, NSW have been underwhelming at best, headless chooks at worst. The player selections and changes haven’t worked because there is no strategic logic from Laurie. NSW for large parts have looked like a rabble, stuck with historic systems from yesteryear and too frightened to play what is in front of them.
While Laurie is the coach, I can’t see anything other than a QLD win, with 40 points plus put on NSW.
As a loyal NSWelshman, the 2026 Origin series has been a very one-sided, hard watch, similar to the Knights debacle of 2025.
We can only get better, but as we all know, the fish rots from the head down.
 
I think it's Clearys last shot at Origin, otherwise we need to move off him. I do think he's the best player at club level. Because of that, I think you restructure the team around him, drop Teddy and move Moses to bench, give him a 9 that won't over play his hand but also a higher IQ player in Brailey. Before you let Koroisau run riot for 20-30mins, who has also played with Cleary before.

Id personally go:
1. Edwards
2. Nawaqanitawase
3. Trell
4. Crichton
5. To'o
6. Strange
7. Cleary
8. Hass
9. Brailey
10. Yeo
11. Young
12. Martin
13. Murray

14. Koroisau
15. Haumole
16. AFB/ Leniu
17. Keon
18. Moses
19. Trojboevic/ Koula

20. Sharpe
 
PingaPonga said:
I think it's Clearys last shot at Origin, otherwise we need to move off him. I do think he's the best player at club level. Because of that, I think you restructure the team around him, drop Teddy and move Moses to bench, give him a 9 that won't over play his hand but also a higher IQ player in Brailey. Before you let Koroisau run riot for 20-30mins, who has also played with Cleary before.

Id personally go:
1. Edwards
2. Nawaqanitawase
3. Trell
4. Crichton
5. To'o
6. Strange
7. Cleary
8. Hass
9. Brailey
10. Yeo
11. Young
12. Martin
13. Murray

14. Koroisau
15. Haumole
16. AFB/ Leniu
17. Keon
18. Moses
19. Trojboevic/ Koula

20. Sharpe
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I like this team. I didn’t have Edward’s but considering his connection with Cleary. And bringing in Martin. Getting his team mates in key positions around him is key. He has the game, our forwards need to get on top.
 
Just read that Loz is signed for next year, so he doesn't have to walk away at the end of the series....and the media is talking up former Origin greats as the next coach anyway. So no actual coaches. It's like NSW is doomed either way, either more inept coaching from Loz or another media identity.
 
Seano said:
Just read that Loz is signed for next year, so he doesn't have to walk away at the end of the series....and the media is talking up former Origin greats as the next coach anyway. So no actual coaches. It's like NSW is doomed either way, either more inept coaching from Loz or another media identity.
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Tbf I think Andrew and Matthew would do a good job
 
Joey was pretty articulate about why he shouldn't be the coach, and it was really a solid argument for a professional coach taking over, because coaching is an art and a skill that requires hard work, study and discipline, which is why the NSWRL needs to drop the stupid rule barring current club coaches.
 
Seano said:
Joey was pretty articulate about why he shouldn't be the coach, and it was really a solid argument for a professional coach taking over, because coaching is an art and a skill that requires hard work, study and discipline, which is why the NSWRL needs to drop the stupid rule barring current club coaches.
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I believe it’s an NRL rule barring club head coaches from coaching either NSW or QLD. It’s not a NSWRL rule

It was done to stop the origin coach recruiting players to their NRL club. Basically it was creating an unfair advantage to the NRL club recruitment wise

NSWRL just needs to pick a coach who has coaching experience and stop picking media personalities
 
Big fan of Boyd, but isn't he currently the NSW defensive coordinator? Last game probably didn't do him any failures, one of the worst defensive performances in Origin history.
 
I’m not sure if the coaching rule affects assistant coaches for NRL teams. If it doesn’t I’d look there, maybe John Morris

Otherwise Toovey could be an option. I liked him as a coach and I liked the passion he coached with, something NSW desperately needs in my opinion
 
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