NSW- time to regather and look ahead to Game 3...

[Someone]

I think qld have got us on the ropes. They were dismal in game 1 and showed us what they are capable of in game 2, and regardless who we have in the team, we just cant go with them when they are on fire.

I dont think daley will change the team much for the decider, but Pearce has to be replaced by Adam Reynolds next year.

 

[Mr Saab]

My issue mate is our halves. In game 1 we dominated them early and scored 2 tries from broken play by powerful runners. After that we didnt score a point and last night we looked no where near scoring any until Farah spied a chance.

Thats right. Game one NSW lead 14-0 thru a good pass for Lewis to Hayne and a broken field run by Jennings. After that they did ef all.
QLD came back and could have won the game apart from some blown tries to Boyd and a double movement to Cameron Smith.
In game 2 NSW were down 14-0 yet they didnt even look like scoring a try...they were inept.

 

[Knightmare]

I think qld have got us on the ropes. They were dismal in game 1 and showed us what they are capable of in game 2, and regardless who we have in the team, we just cant go with them when they are on fire.

I dont think daley will change the team much for the decider, but Pearce has to be replaced by Adam Reynolds next year.

Not meaning to detract from Qld, but take Merritt out of the equation last night and there is every chance we'd be saying Qld were capable of winning 10-6 at home, with virtually all posession within their 20 metre line in the opening quarter. Hardly reason to act like the sky is falling...

 

[mrpwnd]

Not meaning to detract from Qld, but take Merritt out of the equation last night and there is every chance we'd be saying Qld were capable of winning 10-6 at home, with virtually all posession within their 20 metre line in the opening quarter. Hardly reason to act like the sky is falling...

Even with Merritt out, NSW looked like absolute shit all around barring Fifita, Lewis and Merrin.

Easy as it may be to blame the penalty count, even when given the opportunities NSW had absolutely no direction and poor decision making on 5th tackle options.

Whatever chance NSW have in game 3, it certainly won't be on the back of the halves(duh).

 

[betcats]

Im looking forward to Daleys column on sunday explaining why Shitchell Pearce and Maloney are the best halves for game 3.

 

[Someone]

Not meaning to detract from Qld, but take Merritt out of the equation last night and there is every chance we'd be saying Qld were capable of winning 10-6 at home, with virtually all posession within their 20 metre line in the opening quarter. Hardly reason to act like the sky is falling...

and thats with QLD bombing atealst 2, maybe 3 tries.

and remember that in game one they were a double movement from cam smith, and another player being held up away from winning when playing so poorly.

I am not acting like the sky is falling, im just being realistic. they are a champion team, and at times we look like a rudderless group of players. and i think they will be too strong for us in game 3.

P.S hopefully the ref puts his whistle away and lets game 3 become an actually arm wrestle. first two games have been pretty ordinary in terms of quality.

 

[BranVan3000]

I think that is why Reynolds is on the bench- if the halves are not creating tries (or try scoring opportunities) then he can be substituted on. We'll see how it goes with Maloney, whether he is fit for Game 3 or not...

But the halves were doing nothing last night and Reynolds was put into dummy half for Farah - the only guy with a decent kicking game lol

And then later our halves had been so diabolical that Farah was playing first reciever for last tackle kicks

Is that what we need? Halves so inept that the dummy half has to do their role for them?

 

[Knightmare]

It won't be won in the halves. It will be won via the forwards, and incidentally the NSW forwards had a mountain of tackling to get through in the opening quarter last night. You could have the Team of the Century in your backline, but if your forward pack isn't aiming up it's going to be difficult to get good enough field position to consistently threaten the opposition.

The opening 20 minutes suited Qld's backline perfectly- constant sets close to their 20 metre line. The forwards didn't use up the energy the NSW pack used up in tackling, either. I don't see that happening in Game 3 and with more even posession concentrated mostly around the middle of the field, NSW have the advantage. Pearce and Maloney make metres from down-field kicks. I don't know if there is a halves pairing for NSW who could match Thurston and Cronks' ability at attacking close to the line, so instead the Blues are relying on split field play and off-loads, rolling off the back of their forwards, to get points.

 

[Joker's Wild]

It won't be won in the halves. It will be won via the forwards, and incidentally the NSW forwards had a mountain of tackling to get through in the opening quarter last night. You could have the Team of the Century in your backline, but if your forward pack isn't aiming up it's going to be difficult to get good enough field position to consistently threaten the opposition.

The opening 20 minutes suited Qld's backline perfectly- constant sets close to their 20 metre line. The forwards didn't use up the energy the NSW pack used up in tackling, either. I don't see that happening in Game 3 and with more even posession concentrated mostly around the middle of the field, NSW have the advantage. Pearce and Maloney make metres from down-field kicks. I don't know if there is a halves pairing for NSW who could match Thurston and Cronks' ability at attacking close to the line, so instead the Blues are relying on split field play and off-loads, rolling off the back of their forwards, to get points.

They dont have to match them but it would be bloody nice if they had any ability in this area at all.

No, NSW had few chances in the Qld 20 last night but the ones they did have were completely blown by poor passing, kicking and last tackle options from the guys whos job it is to make them count, the halves.

There is simply no getting around the fact that when the game is on the line and NSW have an opportunity to put on points, Pearce and Maloney are just not up to it

 

[Knightmare]

I think it's too early to write Maloney off. Ball control was the biggest problem last night for the Blues when they ventured closer to their tryline.

 

[BranVan3000]

It won't be won in the halves. It will be won via the forwards, and incidentally the NSW forwards had a mountain of tackling to get through in the opening quarter last night. You could have the Team of the Century in your backline, but if your forward pack isn't aiming up it's going to be difficult to get good enough field position to consistently threaten the opposition.

The opening 20 minutes suited Qld's backline perfectly- constant sets close to their 20 metre line. The forwards didn't use up the energy the NSW pack used up in tackling, either. I don't see that happening in Game 3 and with more even posession concentrated mostly around the middle of the field, NSW have the advantage. Pearce and Maloney make metres from down-field kicks. I don't know if there is a halves pairing for NSW who could match Thurston and Cronks' ability at attacking close to the line, so instead the Blues are relying on split field play and off-loads, rolling off the back of their forwards, to get points.

There was absolutely no pressure in the kicks, Maloney and Pearce constantly put in mid range kicks that the back three for Queensland caught on the fly and made it back to the 30-40 line to start the set. They didn't try for a 40-20 to take control when the forwards were struggling I don't think they even found the grass once all night. We didn't get any repeat sets to maintain pressure. It was one of the worst kicking performances I've seen in a game of football

At the very last they should have put up some towering bombs so that the NSW defensive line had time to move up and keep pressure

 

[Joker's Wild]

I think it's too early to write Maloney off. Ball control was the biggest problem last night for the Blues when they ventured closer to their tryline.

Dude, Im not sure why you are dancing around the issue. Blind faith maybe?

Go and have a look at the 5th tackle options taken by our halves within the Qld 20. They are woeful, and thats being kind. Poor bombs or grubbers that bounce of Qld feet.

Simply not good enough

 

[Dazzat]

NSW just have too many "good" halves. Good but not great.

You therefore change them often, thinking that the next "good" half will be better than the last "good" half.

The closest thing you have to a "great" half is Carney, but what did you do to him. Shafted him.

Keep the revolving door going with your halves combination and we'll be looking at a decade of Queensland dominance.

 

[Dazzat]

Sorry, I take that back. The closest thing you have to a "great" half is Jarryd Hayne. But until he starts playing 5/8 at club level, it won't happen.

 

[BranVan3000]

NSW just have too many "good" halves. Good but not great.

You therefore change them often, thinking that the next "good" half will be better than the last "good" half.

The closest thing you have to a "great" half is Carney, but what did you do to him. Shafted him.

Keep the revolving door going with your halves combination and we'll be looking at a decade of Queensland dominance.

Getting rid of Carney was a joke. Easily the only half who can legitimately stand up to a Thurston on the NSW side in terms of being able to break a game open. Throw an A. Reynolds in the mix and you have a smart, structured halfback who looks like Cronk ver. 2

How this isn't our combo, if we want to settle on a longterm partnership, I don't understand

Maloney and Pearce are a jack of all trades, master of none.

 

[Mr Saab]

But but but, Maloney is the calming influence for Pearce......a player who is 24, played 143 games for the chooks, and now 11 origin games.....and Daley believes he needs a calming influence.
FMD.

 

[Knightmare]

NSW just have too many "good" halves. Good but not great.

You therefore change them often, thinking that the next "good" half will be better than the last "good" half.

The closest thing you have to a "great" half is Carney, but what did you do to him. Shafted him.

Keep the revolving door going with your halves combination and we'll be looking at a decade of Queensland dominance.

This is pretty much spot on.

They can keep the halves combo for Game 3 and people will complain they offer nothing to NSW in attack, or we change the halves combo and then accuse NSW of panicking with the selection criteria.

I like the idea of Carney and Reynolds in the halves, but save it for next year.

 

[BranVan3000]

This is pretty much spot on.

They can keep the halves combo for Game 3 and people will complain they offer nothing to NSW in attack, or we change the halves combo and then accuse NSW of panicking with the selection criteria.

I like the idea of Carney and Reynolds in the halves, but save it for next year.

Why?

Wait till we've lost with a game in the balance before addressing an obvious issue?

 

[big hit!]

Why?

Wait till we've lost with a game in the balance before addressing an obvious issue?

Why put this pressure on a young bloke who plays for the club I support? Apparently you support Souths too but all you want is to see these players running around in a blue jersey and stuff the consequences. There is much more downside to selecting him now than benefits. If he's selected, its in Game 1 of a series, not a farkin decider, nuffy.

not to mention bringing in two new players in the halves will completely erode any attacking combination NSW have requiring it to be learnt all over again...........for a decider. ever seen how a club plays in a trial game early in the season? you want this in an origin decider. nuffy, nuffy, nuffy.

The obvious issue was possession. Leads to territory up the middle as opposition defence tires and is continually on the back foot.

Game 1: NSW forwards dominate. With forward momentum and QLD defensive line backpedalling, Maloney has time to hit good kicks into space and also create breaks and tries. Cronk & Thurston looked like suburban amateurs. QLD outside backs got no ball.

Game 2: QLD forwards dominate, even more so than NSW forwards did in Game 1. Cronk & Thurston look like legends again. Deliver good quality ball to outside backs and have time to execute kicks. Reversal of fortunes for NSW backs.

yet nuffies are going for the same old typical reaction.

put club allegiances and player likes or dislikes aside FFS. there isn't ever a post where Souths fanboys are just pushing the barrow for Souths players rather than looking at from a comprehensive point of view.

 

[Knightmare]

Dude, Im not sure why you are dancing around the issue. Blind faith maybe?

Go and have a look at the 5th tackle options taken by our halves within the Qld 20. They are woeful, and thats being kind. Poor bombs or grubbers that bounce of Qld feet.

Simply not good enough

I don't care about Pearce or Maloney tbh, there are better halfbacks than Pearce who could almost certainly be more effective for NSW if given the chance.

But chopping and changing another halves pairing with the series on the line, as I see it, is a dumb move. I don't care how NSW win in regards to playing style or where their tries come from, I just care that they win. The two biggest factors in Qld outscoring them last night was Merritt's defensive ineptitude (lead to 3 tries) and a glut of possession for Qld to start the match, close to their line. We will almost certainly not see either of these in Game 3. As little as possible should be changed going into the decider, unless anybody wants to suggest that we could slot Carney and Reynolds into the halves and they will play a calm, composed game that spells danger for Qld.

I feel as if too many times since Joey retired from rep football we've made the mistake of slotting a new player/ players into the halves and expecting them to be the next big thing, added with the pressure of having to win straight out. I think NSW are the best chance in winning the series that they have been in 7 years, why go down a path that hasn't worked in that time and risk snatching defeat from the jaws of victory? If Pearce and Maloney play crap football in the decider in Game 3 and it has a big influence on NSW losing, that's that. Give the 6 and 7 to somebody else next year for Game 1, move on. It'd be silly to think they weren't aware the pressure was on them for the decider, let's see how they respond...