How can anyone say that the half back that has led his side to 4 straight grandfinal wins and one of them almost single handedly cannot play Origin Football.
Up until last night he had played 16 games witha 50% win record. He doesn't need to be defended as the best player in the world (I am no Cleary fan as a person) his record proves he is. His coaches for NSW (forget last year he was out) have been pretty ordinary and Meninga at a National level does/did him no service.
It can only be dumb Parramatta fans that would always blame the half back when the forwards provide no platform.
The answer is simple Laurie Daley was completely out of his depth. He coached this side from world beaters in round 1 to nothings in round 3. He just does not get how the modern game has changed since he played. That's a reflection on him and the NSW process, not the game.
His interchange use last night was disgraceful, his understanding of how the game would be refereed was also total naiveity. Klein managed the game in round 2 and now come round 3 just left the game to its own devices. Qld played with lightening play the balls and laid all over the NSW ruck, basically discounting any play the ball speed NSW could garner. They finally woke up to that in the last 20 minutes and guess what, they were pretty even through that period.
Get over it, I'm a NSW supporter and we were completely outsmarted and out coached.
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Fair points Kenny and well articulated. One thing I noticed in the Blues side last night was almost total no organisation in a structural sense. The whole plan was seemingly getting the ball in the air for Lomax to catch.
I havent seen the stats but I would be surprised if Zac Lomax didn't have more hit ups than any other forward in the blues. Admirable but why?
This is becoming the exact go to play for Eels as well. Way too many kicks for Lomax in last game. Predictable every time. Needs to be more variety in 5 th tackle options to keep the opposition guessing.
Origin is won in the middle. It always has been. Who runs the hardest, tackles the hardest, line-speed, kick chase. That's it. NSW didn't come out ready to dominate the middle. It was NRL level and it's meant to be a lot higher. That's on the Coach and ultimately his players. NSW had the team to dominate this series but simply didn't want it enough.
As for Cleary it is difficult to play off a pack not going forward but he did nothing at all to break up the momentum. 5 hitups, kick long to the QLD FB or bomb to Lomax's wing. That was basically Cleary's night. That's ordinary from him.
Yeo, Edwards, King, Utoikamanu gotta go. Martin and Crichton were quiet. Hudson Young either starts or don't pick him.
Whoever they choose, they need to pick forwards who will dominate the middle. Selections should be relatively straightforward.
It's also about time Papenhuyzen had his shot at FB.
fair comments Mutts, who owns it is something the NSW admin should be looking at. Even if its not public.
100%, can't disagree. QLD wanted it more last night, probably steeled by Munster's circumstances. Maybe the Blues believed their own hype and thought they could just ride on their talent, and the home ground advantage. At the end of the day, you need to roll your sleeves up and work hard in defence and the 1%'ers.
Good to see you watched the game Mutts I swear this Cleary stuff while he wasn't great man.Like you mention this is a combat sport ffs you don't finesse wins and what the Daley Blues NSW tactic was go round them you just knew they were in trouble.
The maroons linespeed was committed and there name and talent stopper and the blues had no answer till the 79th minute coutesy of Luai.Put the ball behind them early sow the seeds of doubt and back that linespeed off.You know if I'm critiquing Cleary being the experienced half what was he seeing that's my biggest critique of Cleary he had it in his mind we were going round them.
Slater made changes to his roster the last 2 games made big calls changed up his tactics in attack and defense all while Daley had his foot in quick sand hoping his big names would win the day.Even when the maroons lose they still get it.They don't have the talent the blues have to choose from but they pick grit over talent everyday and it works.The blues think it's an all star game and they need 17 stars.Here's Slater pulling oldman Papali and Capewell and debuting 20 yr old Koia on Mitchell and Shibasaki on Critta moves Cotter from middle to edge Hammer back to fullback and get the job done.
One state gets it the other one is still the butt of all jokes.
We lack speed badly in our back 5 and Edwards showed that. Papenhuyzen can be that circuit breaker. But you are right, the selections of King and Stefano did not work.
Re hiring a dope like Daley was always going to end badly , Bellamy was a epic failure as a origin coach so between both of them at origin Level they are failures . The people who hired Daley should be sacked as Wiz said last night and if Daley has any pride he would admit that coaching is not his forte step down by the end of the day .
Nothing subtle about that Frankie and not much that can be argued against it either.
I wonder if Bellamey ever had any heart in it, or was just there to make some beaucrats in NSWRL feel safer over their desperate attempt at finding a coach.
This result falls on Laurie Daley ...just because you are a champion player doesnt not always translate to Coaching just look at Mal Menniga....he had nothing to do tactically with those 8 series wins...what are the bears thinking anyway thats another topic.
Not sure what Bellamy was doing in camp abviously not much because Im sure he would of had some advice ideas ?
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