I see it like this- the game couldn't have gone more to plan for Qld. NSW were well and truly on the back foot once they got inside their own half and poor ball control/ attacking options let them down. But put a more capable winger in Merritt's place and there's 3 tries that Qld very possibly don't score. That's 18 points less and the Maroons winning by less than a converted try, after everything else.
I can't see Qld playing better than that in Game 3 or having such a great opening 20 minutes, and not only can I see NSW playing better, but they have the home advantage this time around. Some people should relax. Chopping and changing players in the Blues team has been done enough the past 7 years and mostly failed. R69 is right in that NSW should find the best possible spine and stick with it, but we knew before the team was selected for Game 1 that Pearce was going to be the halfback. I didn't want it, most NSW fans didn't want it but at least Daley showed some logic in picking a halves combo who have been doing well together in the NRL week by week. Provided they are both fit, let's stick with what we started with and give them this chance to put their best case forward as to why they deserve a future at Origin level and if they flop, we have other choices for next year. But that is next year.
We should be motivated first and foremost by the excitement that we could win the series, instead of being motivated by the fear that we could lose. That plays into Qld's hands more than playing Steve Turner and Merritt on the wings for NSW in Game 3...
