A lot of players copping flack in NSW for last night's effort, but for me, I think it was the most crystal example of why Queensland have dominated for more than a decade.
And that's Cameron Smith.
Again, NSW forwards are copping it, but Peats bog-standard delivery does nothing to help them get a roll-on. Origin has the fastest line-speed of any game of Rugby League. The forwards are the toughest, hardest-hitting forwards in the game. So if you just keep rucking it up without any variety you are an easy mark every time.
Cameron Smith, on the other hand, is constantly asking questions. You come up blazing fast line speed, he'll just stop, prop and go the other way.
Peats did not run from dummy half ONCE. Every single pass off the ground, exactly the same. For me, it's why Queensland has got better against us every game of this series. They saw how we play in game one and they just adapted. They upped the line-speed, and had a shooter coming out of the line on almost every ruck.
When your playing at the highest standard, against the best defenders in the game, you need more at dummy half. You have to start asking questions from that first touch of the ball, because I don't care how big and ugly your forwards are - if they're just rucking it forward in Origin, it's a recipe for failure.
I would have picked Pearce, but I would have played him at hooker. Put Reynolds at seven predominantly for his kicking game, because again, in Origin, if you don't have a five-star kicking game, you're screwed.
Maybe it's Daley's fault that we were so generic around the ruck, and Peats wasn't given license to show any creativity but I think he's certainly more known for his D and willingness. Even so I'd prefer to start with a creative dummy half, who can move into the halves if you cop an injury, and use Peats off the bench.
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Reynolds' kicking game for Souths this season hasn't been fantastic. Interesting suggestion regarding Pearce. I've got a feeling that they instructed Peats to simply pass from the ground given a couple of interviews that were given about Peats' service. I think there needed to be some shorter interchanges of passing between the forwards to prevent the gang tackles that QLD were doing. Hard for a dummy-half to scoot if the defence and markers are set. NSW resorted to one-out stuff as the game wore on and played into QLD's hands. The only time NSW really got the ascendancy was just after half time and they started targeting the edges with the back-rowers and then you had short passes around the ruck and forced the QLD A and B defenders to continuously make tackles.
The whole joint needs a clean out. This crop have had their chances. From the coach to the senior playing group it's time to blood the next generation that can take advantage of the aging Queensland team. The battles have been lost and the war is over after last night, it's time to concede defeat.
Daley, parish , Cartwright and co need to move on . They need to start again. The key is to get the birds , turbo , into the starting team and create a youthful blend . Cordner, Jackson and frizelle are ok big front row needs to go. Bird ignited the team as soon as he came on. Can't see much changing as Munster , Hess and co are going to continue the domination
When Cam Smith comes out during the week and says he's going to run more NSW should have seen and heard that and targeted his area of the field.
They should have made an emphasis on first contact and getting numbers in the tackle to slow the ruck speed down.
They also looked completely unprepared for the Queensland off loads.
In attack we have a big foward pack but continually went one out or out the back instead of going to the line in numbers and playing direct this Would have allowed Pearce Tedesco and Maloney sniff off these big ball runners.
Our attack was to lateral and we were easy to defend.
Cam Smith as much as I hate him is brilliant .
From the first 2 sets you could see QLD did everything quicker. They ran faster, hit harder, wrestled harder and got quicker play the balls. That was just comparing the first 2 sets.
And nothing changed in 80 minutes.
Can't disagree.
But you can talk players and tactics all day long and it won't make much difference for as long as Queensland can continue to put such a vastly superior team on the park they'll keep winning. We need generational change, but on their side.
Pearce and Maloney can't touch Cronk for smarts and control. Smith is the best in the world and possibly the best leader EVER. Add to that the established combinations (Smith, Cronk, Slater and now add Munster (who was awesome)). And of course there's been JT, the greatest half of his generation and future immortal.
Forget the head-scratching and recriminations - they simply have an abundance of talent that we can't match.
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