In Origin you need more out of dummy half

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.

"Last time I went through Abu Dhabi transit lounge , he was sitting there waiting on Roy Spagnolo to send him details for his connecting flight . I didn't have the heart to tell him. Just told him Ricky Stuart and the boys are lookimg forward to his…"

"He has not kicked on...as a centre probably the worst defensive centre in the league. Doesnt have hands or a pass....just cant see him progressing actually he is almost as bad as Sean Russell"

Replies

paul taylor July 13, 2017 at 8:21am

I have said it before . . He is the no 1 player in the game. Durable , great defender , great attacker , brillant tactician and captain . Manipulating and scheming and is worth every cent of his $1m plus each year . Dominated that game last night
SuperEel 22 July 13, 2017 at 8:41am

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.
Cute Eel July 13, 2017 at 9:02am

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.
- paul taylor > Cute Eel July 13, 2017 at 9:35am
  
  Agree 100%.
  
  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
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin July 13, 2017 at 9:22am

King >>>>peats05
Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him July 13, 2017 at 9:26am

I said after game 1 when everyone was licking Peats's balls that he was still average . Just because he's the best on offer doesn't make him of origin standard , exactly like Pearce . Both of them are like the Steven Bradberrys of Origin . Peats wouldn't even had been playing if it wasn't for a 31 year old halfback who's been playing Hooker getting injured .

Cam Smith as much as I hate him is brilliant .
George Bakos July 13, 2017 at 9:27am

Run from Dummy half? They did quite the opposite. Yes he bluffed them with his first hit up of the game..but they played the entire game out wide on our edges.. TOO SMART THIS CAM SMITH. Blind Freddy should of known their game plan after his comments.
Muttman July 13, 2017 at 9:41am

Before all this however the difference was energy.
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.
The Ape July 13, 2017 at 9:44am

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.
Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him July 13, 2017 at 9:47am

Hopefully,next year they start looking at guys like Brown that have a bit of mongrel . Even Jacksons a bit vanilla for my liking . Our blokes othe than maybe Klemmer are a bit handbagish. Couldn't really see any of them getting in a good old fashioned stink if one broke out .