Yet all signs point to Daley’s Blues being under the pump – again.
Advertisement
That may cost Daley his job.
The Origin Series is seen as a Test trial but Frizell will remain eligible for Wales unless called on by the Australian selectors, in the way that Adrian Lam played for Papua New Guinea as well as Queensland.
NSW took a gamble in Game One with some selection decisions that fell just short but Daley has stuck to his guns and selected a largely unchanged side for Game Two.
“Maybe we went out there knowing we were 1-0 up and if we didn’t win that one there was still an opportunity to go back to Brisbane but this time around it’s totally different”.
The odds are stacked against NSW – but someone has forgotten to tell Daley.
“I’m quite immune to what’s going on, all I’m anxious about is getting this team to win game two”, he said.
“All I’m anxious about is trying to get this team to win game two”.
NSW have picked a big and powerful forward pack with plenty of skill and footwork out wide, however they struggled to capitalise on their strengths in game one because of Queensland’s experience in big games.
The Blues – steered around the park by Trent Hodkinson and Mitchell Pearce in last year’s series – had managed to squeeze just one goal line dropout out of Queensland in the four games prior to this year.
Only Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy has survived back-to-back series defeats as Blues coach.
“I know there’s been a lot of hype about it all after what Laurie said at the press conference”.
Maroons halfback Cooper Cronk’s kicking game kept Moylan honest on Origin debut, ensuring a nervous start in Queensland’s dour 6-4 game one win in Sydney.
The last time they met at Suncorp Stadium, the Maroons romped to a record 52-6 win.
Is this the dawn of a new Queensland dynasty under Kevin Walters or will NSW find something from within to keep the series alive and force a decider in Blues territory?
“I feel for Wade”, he said.
“There is some pressure on us to some degree”.
“Being Dylan’s first Origin match here at Suncorp we’re going to make it as uncomfortable for him as we can”, said Walters.
Both teams had their training camp dramas. Everyone is going to be OK physically and ready to go but our mental preparation is key for this game.
Advertisement
Walters did not expect it to detract from the spectacle to come.
