Congratulations to the Queensland Maroons for winning the 2022 Ampol State of Origin Series.
The Maroons thoroughly deserved the win having dominated all but one half of football in the entire series.
Speculation south of the border has been growing and I have sat back and watched.
All the obvious questions were asked after Game 3…
- Did Coach Fittler pick the right team? Six changes for Game 2 suggests no. Leaving out Jack Whitton in the decider also suggests no.
- Were there too many Panthers players? Where was Jarome Luai?
- The Maroons Kurt Capewell’s try in the decider, from a Daniel Tupou’s error, on the stroke of halftime was the turning point. Well, yes.
- Too many errors in the second half hindered the Blues from running out of their half. Correct. Forced passes. Cute plays (i.e. shortcuts) v the Maroons effort plays.
- Queensland were missing their best player in Cameron Munster that game. I will see your Munster and raise you a Latrell and a Turbo. None played.
I will stop there. But what has not been said is obvious.
The turning point in the series was the sin binning of Maroons’ Felise Kaufusi in Game 2. The Blues immediately scored to take a 14 -12 halftime lead. The Maroons were leading prior to this.
The sin-binning was correct and the Blues ran away with the game in the second half. And yes, the Blues were great but part of the truth is that the Maroons just ran out of petrol defending one player down for ten minutes.
Why didn’t the NSW Blues win this series?
As stated in both Game 3 Previews, the Blues have only won a decider at Suncorp/Lang Park twice in 42 years.
The answer is simple. Win the home game and don’t take the decider at Suncorp.
“Now we have to listen to all the bulls**t from you (Queenslanders) in the next 12 months. It drives you mad.”
Andrew Johns – Channel Nine post match coverage
Joey, unfortunately we do.
-Rob
