Immortal Andrew “Joey” Johns and Brad “Freddy” Fittler had influences on those teams similar to present-day Queensland champions Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston.
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“We’ve got to make sure that we go up there and prepare well and do the best we possibly can”.
The one advantage the Blues, and especially the debutants, have on their side is they are playing the first game in NSW, which is a massive boost to their chances of winning the all-important first game – history shows the victor of the first game usually goes on to claim the series.
In a tight opening half, the visitors claimed the early lead with a Thurston penalty before the Blues capitalised on four straight sets to hit back with the opening try, when Maloney put his former Sydney Roosters teammate Cordner over for a 4-2 lead after 25 minutes.
The bunker’s first foray into Origin wasn’t without controversy, as review official Bernard Sutton turned down a 66th-minute try to NSW centre Josh Morris, that was referred to him from the onfield officials as a try.
“It was a long second half”.
Queensland can seal the 2016 series at Suncorp in Brisbane on 22 June, with the return to ANZ Stadium on 13 July.
“Anyone walking away from last night’s game apart from those Queensland supporters and players wouldn’t been real happy with the result”, Kearns said.
“It’s great to go past one of your records (Darren Lockyer) you were one of my heroes growing up”.
It was reported in the build-up to Wednesday’s clash that New South Wales’ game plan had been leaked to the opposition, per the Sydney Morning Herald.
He threw a streaky pass to Josh Morris and the ball was on the ground for a nervous couple of seconds, but he just managed to ground it and give the Maroons a third consecutive set.
KIDS of today would find this hard to believe, but New South Wales once dominated State of Origin.
Boyd Cordner put the Blues in front with his first Origin try after Johnathan Thurston had opened the scoring with a penalty, but Adam Reynolds failed to convert and that proved to be costly.
Maroons halfback Cooper Cronk showed no ill effects of the ankle injury that hindered him in the lead-up to the game. I will be hoping, along with every other Blues fan, that the debutants, especially Adam Reynolds, will feed off this excitement and give the Blues the direction and kicking game that they have lacked over the past decade.
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Those who know NSW coach Laurie Daley well, say he doesn’t even use a whiteboard.
