Qld have shown (like the Storm) that they rarely play two poor games in a row. They played a more composed game tonight and (despite the error count) were patient in how they went about adding to the score.
NSW remind me of Qld circa 2004-2005 right now. They had a young JT, Slater and Smith all showing signs of what's manifested since- but they lacked the maturity to consistently apply that pressure for 3 Origin games. In the 2004 and 2005 deciders, Qld were made to look second-rate by a polished, well-lead NSW team. Once players like Freddy/ Joey retired and the Maroons got someone like Meninga in- a respected figure who had the ability to lead? Then tables turned and the series wins came...
In similar fashion, right now there are a few younger players in this NSW squad who've done enough to show they've got big futures in front of them. But mentally they lack that killer instinct. That ability to land a knockout punch when it's needed, the discipline to weed out the stupid shit in their games that costs the team (looking at you, Wade Graham). This team would be a much better unit and more consistently play like the team we saw for the first 120 minutes of this years' series with different leadership- and that rests on the shoulders of Laurie Daley.
He has twice lost series he should have won (2013, 2017). As good as he was as a player, he is too nice, too reluctant to rock the boat and clearly lacks that killer instinct needed in an Origin coach. A fantastic player with great natural talent, but (like Wally Lewis) doesn't have what it takes to be successful as a coach at this level of the game. His demeanour just after half-time during that short interview told you everything- he looked lost for ideas, like a man already defeated- and it reflected on the team. This was his series to win- a coach with that ruthless attitude needed in Game 2 would've picked out JT, picked out Boyd and instructed his players to run at them all evening- pile on the points and smash Qld all the way to the final siren. Qld were bleeding, vulnerable, there for the taking- but Daley had nothing. Joey was right to go off like he did at full-time.
Daley needs to do the right thing, on behalf of the 7 million people in NSW, and resign. Walk out the door instead of being thrown out. They need to bring somebody else in there (and there's plenty of time to speculate) before a promising batch of youngsters become poisoned by this toothless, flat-track-bully culture that exists in the Blues right now. Laurie had his arse saved by the flukiest of wins in Game 3 last year (glossing over how close NSW came to losing with everything stacked in their favour)- but this was his series to answer the doubters, and he failed.
If tonight is what it takes for NSW to finally see the back of Laurie Daley and Mitchell Pearce, then it was worth it.
