Yet all signs point to Daley’s Blues being under the pump – again.
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It was Queensland 10th series win in the last 11 years.
And sully departing Blues skipper Paul Gallen’s Origin legacy. Along with definitely the best hooker [Cameron Smith] I have ever seen and a five-eighth [Johnathan Thurston] who will probably be the best we’ll ever see to date. “If you’re playing at home in game two and you’ve wrapped it up in the two games maybe we can look at doing that”. “He is one of those kids who will accept any challenge”.
However, NSW coach Laurie Daley has guaranteed Gallen a State of Origin farewell.
Only Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy has survived back-to-back series defeats. “I think it has become personal those comments”, he said. “He’s our captain and I love him like a brother”.
“He’s been there for me for a very long time now, since 2012 when I went to the Sharks, been a big influence on my life”.
The Maroons have now won 10 of 12 Origin II games in Brisbane, winning seven straight since 2002. The Maroons simply possess more firepower than NSW across all areas of the park, and their record at Suncorp Stadium speaks for itself. The Blues dominated the first half and had chances to keep the series alive but were less clinical than the Cane Toads when it mattered.
“There is some pressure on us to some degree”.
“If we have to go to Sydney for a decider that is going to be a hard task”.
With Dane Gagai’s quadriceps concern a thing of the past and the stomach bug that worked its way through the camp now abated Smith said the main area of concern was Queensland’s mental approach to tonight’s clash at Suncorp Stadium.
James Tedesco, Bryce Cartwright and Wade Graham continue to beat down the door while Jack Bird and Tyson Frizell impressed in their representative debuts in game two.
“I don’t think I’ve seen Robbie Farah run as much in the first 15 minutes of this game than in another Origin game”, Nine Network commentator Peter Sterling boasted.
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Walters did not expect it to detract from the spectacle to come.
